Orford, NH - Kathleen P. McKinnon, Grammy Extraordinaire, passed peacefully in her home in Orford, New Hampshire on March 1, 2024, nearly the age of 82.

She was born on April 29,1942 in Buffalo, New York to Evelyn and Ambrose James Callaghan and hailed from Hamburg, NY. Kathy was the second of six children, and the only daughter; often felt like a second mother to her brothers. A family of musicians, she learned to play many instruments including violin, piano and guitar. Her vocal range honed from anarchy to angelic. She was often mistaken for Joan Baez while playing guitar and singing on the shores of Lake Erie.

She studied English at D'Youville University where she also played in the orchestra and worked at SUNY Buffalo where she met a recent dental school graduate and Navy man V. Peter Corbett Jr. They married and moved across state to NYC and started their family with the arrival of V. Peter III and Moira Christine.

A move to coastal New Hampshire found Kathy and the family living in a haunted house in Newcastle, NH where Timothy Francis was born. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to a farm in North Hampton, NH - where they raised pigs, had horses and a barn cat named Dutchess…you friggin cat. Here, her fourth child, James Martin, was born.

During the next stage of her life, she would substitute teach at North Hampton Elementary School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover, NH where her children attended. Kathy became a successful realtor eventually opening her own agency. Rendering this service to the seacoast area, she met another Navy man - Frank A. McKinnon. They courted and married in the late summer of 1991, which was when Kathy became stepmother to two more sons. Michael and Ryan McKinnon.

Kathy and Frank were active with St. Theresa's Parish in Rye, NH. They spent many years as members of the choir; it was the core of their social circle. Kathy even served as choir director for a spell. She taught CCD to the youth of the community and volunteered for many affiliated groups associated with St. Theresa's.

Frank and Kathy threw renowned gatherings; what seemed like the whole church on Christmas Eve, Thanksgivings, family reunions and pig roasts. Sharing food and feeding guests was how Kathy would most often demonstrate her love. Frequently these occasions would break into song. She and her five brothers along with their thirteen nieces and nephews would sing and play classic Americana folk or even songs they made up themselves as youth. Not one soul who witnessed Kathy's rendition of "Me and Bobby McGee" will ever forget it. These formative memories live forever in the minds of all attendees.

After a stretch of retirement in mid coast Maine, Kathy and Frank would return to New Hampshire to split their time between Squam Lake and the Upper Valley. Here she would nourish, dote on and fawn over her 13 grandchildren, providing a lifetime of memories to another generation. It is here where she passed comfortably, at peace. Surrounded by the family she created. Forever emblazoned in our hearts.

Kathy is predeceased by her son Michael. She is survived by her husband Frank; her children Peter Corbett (Kim), Moira DeBois (Marc), Tim Corbett (Sandy), Ryan McKinnon (Renee) and James Corbett (Dawn); and, of course, her pride and joy, her grandchildren, Christopher, Tucker, Jennifer, Moira Courtney, Mikayla, Samantha, Andrew James (AJ), Kathleen, Olivia, Chase, Isabel, Maeve, and Rylin. Kathy is also survived by her brothers James Callaghan (MaryAnn), Vincent Callaghan, Nicholas Callaghan (Christine), Timothy Callaghan (Luci) and Richard Callaghan (Charlene) and her thirteen nieces and nephews.

Kathy's family is planning a celebration of life on March 16 in Fairlee, VT from 1-4 pm at the Lake Morey Inn. A private family graveside service will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to your local hospice, St. Jude or to a charity of your choice in her name.

La-da-da, la-da-da, la, da-da, la, da-da...Bobby McGee