Katherine Brodeur, 89, of Marlborough; Retired Telephone Operator

Katherine A. Honey (Bliss) Brodeur, 89, of Marlborough, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 at Marlborough Hills Healthcare Center with her family by her side. Her husband, Henry J. Brodeur died in 2000.

She was born raised and educated in Marlborough, the daughter of the late Charles A. and Alice M. (Mulhall) Bliss and was a graduate of Marlborough High School, Class of 1943.

She was telephone operator for New England Telephone & Telegraph for 34 years, retiring in 1977, and during that time had the pleasure of speaking to many famous people, including JFK, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Marilyn Monroe, and Jimmy Durante.

She was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Church, Pioneers of America and a former member of the Ackroyd Houde American Legion Auxiliary #132. A descendant of the Mayflower, she was an avid bird watcher and Red Sox fan who loved cats, bingo and crafts. She was easy going and devoted to her sisters, Rita and Helen.

She leaves two nephews, Lewis C. Krouse and his wife Beryl of Northborough, and John C. Voyta and his wife Martha Kilcoyne of Hudson; four nieces, Virginia K. Hogan and her husband William of Ellington, Conn., Catherine M. Hatfield and her husband Richard of Acton, Wendy L. Krouse-Kazanovicz and her husband Paul of Woolwich, Maine. and Jane M. Voyta-Petersen and her wife Dawn of Hudson; her goddaughter, Beth Connors-Kelso of Nashville, Tenn.; 10 grandnephews and nieces; and five great-grand-nephews and nieces.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, Prospect Street, Marlborough. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Beach Street. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home (www.CollinsFuneral.com), 378 Lincoln St., Marlborough. Flowers may be sent or donations made in her memory to charity of donors choice.