Catherine Arline Hamilton

Greenland- Catherine “Cathy” Arline Hamilton, 82, passed away at home in Greenland on Valentine’s Day, Friday February 14, 2025 from effects of a cerebral infarction (stroke) in April 2024. Born in Newton, Massachusetts, the eldest child of Patrick Roy Fawson of Halifax, Canada and Catherine Patricia “Kay” Foley of Dorchester, MA in the midst of World War II, she grew up in West Newton with cousins next door. She was raised by her Canadian father and grandmother, Adelia Jane (Young) Fawson from Nova Scotia with Acadian French, Mi'kmaq First Nation, Scots, Dutch Irish and German roots. From her mother, she inherited her Irish green eyes and beaming smile. Her grandmother taught her to cook traditional stews and took a shine to her future husband, the singing milkman Thomas J. Hamilton of Woburn, MA. Cathy and Tom were married for fifty-four years until parted by his death in 2019. A registered nurse for more than fifty years, Cathy’s career began at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton, MA - her alma mater. She lovingly cared for patients at Choate Hospital in Woburn, in nursing homes in Woburn and Portsmouth, NH, in pediatric centers in Boston and as school nurse in Rye, NH. For over thirty years, she worked at Portsmouth Regional Hospital doing med/surg rounds, in the ER and as a psychiatric nurse at The Pavilion - now the Behavioral Health Unit. After ten years helping people with their mental health at a time when the term was barely recognized, Cathy transitioned to private duty. She comforted patients who were dying and those who needed skilled nursing care at home. One of her most memorable home health experiences was caring for a wonderful boy named Lukey born with cerebral palsy. Cathy helped Lukey improve his communication skills and facilitated a meeting with then President Bill Clinton. Cathy and Lukey became lifelong friends and no one celebrated his achievement more than Nurse Cathy when he graduated from high school. Cathy was also a talented artist and dancer and glamorous enough to have been a Hollywood starlet. She loved everything about living on the NH Seacoast (especially ice cream and lighthouses) where she and Tom settled forty-nine years ago with their four children. Mrs. Hamilton is predeceased by her husband Thomas James Johnston Hamilton, her parents Patrick Roy Fawson, her mother Catherine Patricia Budd (Foley), and her sister Bernadette Fawson Anderson. She is survived by brothers Patrick Roy Fawson, Jr., Edwin Budd, James Budd, Robert Budd, and Richard Budd; her children Dawn Hamilton of Greenland, NH, Thomas Patrick Hamilton and daughter-in-law Tracy Hamilton of Hampton, NH, Jill Marie Hamilton of Marietta, GA, and Todd Michael Hamilton of Greenland, NH; her grandchildren Halli McCaughan Anderson and Justin Ringle of Astoria, OR, Kody Santiago and Brendin Thomas Hamilton both of Layton, UT, Liam Gannon Anderson of Marietta, GA; and her great grandchild Ansel Eade Ringle of Astoria, OR. Cathy is also mourned by her beloved brothers and sisters-in-law and many dear nieces and nephews and their children, and many more cousins and friends. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 29 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home- Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road Hampton, NH 03842. A Catholic Funeral Mass will celebrated be on Tuesday, April 29 at 12:00 pm Noon at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 820 Central Road Rye, NH 03870. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following local and national nonprofit organizations. Nurses House, a century-old, nurse-managed nonprofit organization dedicated to helping registered nurses in need by clicking here or Prescott Park Arts Festival, Portsmouth’s premiere arts organization keeping the arts accessible to all by clicking here

Catherine Arline Hamilton

July 5, 1942 - February 14, 2025