Kathleen McGuinness, 73, of Raleigh, NC, passed away on July 1, 2023. She was born in Rockville Center on June 9, 1950, daughter of the late Peter and Agnes (Cogan) McGuinness. Kathy grew up on Long Island with her brothers and sisters and attended East Meadow High School.

Kathy earned a Master’s degree in geriatric social work from Stony Brook University. As a social worker, she started and ran countless support groups for people suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia and their families. Kathy co-founded the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and created and ran an adult day care center for persons with dementia named Wally’s Circle. As an expert in her field, Kathy presented at a conference at Trinity College in Dublin Ireland, a high point of her career as a proud Irish-American woman.

On April 28, 1979, she married the love of her life, Jeffrey Hickey. They retired and moved to Raleigh, NC in 2014 to be closer to their beloved grandchildren, who she absolutely adored.

Kathy loved crabbing, playing the card game Liverpool, dancing with her sisters, singing, poetry, Virginia Woolf, going to live music concerts, traveling and gardening. She was a true Irish storyteller.

“Aunt Kath” was a beloved aunt who could keep a good secret, and a second mom to her many nieces and nephews.

Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Jeffrey. She is survived by her daughters Jocelyn McGuinness Hickey (Eric Wild), Kara McGuinness-Hickey (David Ewalt), and Mallory McGuinness-Hickey (Christopher Carter), and grandchildren Casey and Maddie Wild; Kathy was the the loving sister of Mary (predeceased), Peter, Michele, Joseph, Eileen, Paul, Theresa, Anne and John (predeceased). Aunt Kath is also survived by her many nieces and nephews.

A wake will be held at 4pm on Thursday, July 6th, 2023 at Renaissance Funeral Home, 7615 Six Forks Road, Raleigh NC 27615. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, July 7th, 2023 at 1:30 pm at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 520 W. Holding Ave, Wake Forest, NC 27587, with burial to follow.