Kathleen Gormley Obituary (1969 - 2023)

Merrick, New York and Dedham, Maine - Kathleen Gormley Pultorak, 53, died on September 16, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Kathleen was born on October 11, 1969, in Manhattan, NY. She grew up in Merrick, NY with her parents Jack and Margaret Gormley and her two siblings, Betty and John. She attended the Cure of Ars School. As a young girl she found her passion for Irish Dancing and competed in multiple feis dance competitions. While at St. Agnes High School in Uniondale she met the love of her life, Paul Pultorak. During her high school years she enjoyed cheerleading and playing the piano. Paul and Kathleen graduated together in 1987. Kathleen started her career in the social work field where her passion of helping others was ignited. She attended Queens College, Flushing, NY where she received her Batchelor’s degree, followed by Long Island University, South Hampton, NY where she received her Masters degree in Gerontology. She discovered her professional satisfaction working as a court appointed social worker for incapacitated seniors. Her career path took her to agencies in lower Manhattan, Long Island and Maine. While in Maine, she received her second Master's degree in social work from the University of Maine Orono, later to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. During the pandemic she helped numerous clients through teletherapy. Kathleen and Paul married in the summer of 2006 in Hunter, NY then started their life together in Maine. In the summer of 2008, their daughter Ada was born. They established their Maine home, worked and raising their daughter, though Kathleen always considered herself a New Yorker at heart. Previously in 1998 Kathleen lived in Lubec, Maine, while serving in AmeriCorps VISTA. She was predeceased by her father, Jack Gormley and her brother, John. She is survived by her husband, Paul Pultorak and their daughter Ada; mother, Margaret Gormley of Merrick; sister, Betty and Bill Gerneglia of Rockville Centre and their daughter, Kate. Visiting hours celebrating Kathleen’s life will be held from 2:00-4:00pm and 7:00-9:00pm on Monday, September 25, at the N.F. Walker Funeral Home, 2039 Merrick Ave, Merrick, NY. A Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am on Tuesday, September 26, at Cure of Ars Parish, 2323 Merrick Ave, Merrick, NY. Followed by Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY. To view Kathleen’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit (FH web address) Memorial contributions may be made in Kathleen's memory to Hospice of Southern Maine, Gosnell House, https://hsm46624.thankyou4caring.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298; Cheverus High School, Campus Ministry, https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/22923/donations/new