Katherine "Kay" Tanner

Hampton - Katherine “Kay” Tanner of Hampton, NH, passed away on April 9, 2024, at age 82, after a courageous battle with heart disease. She was surrounded by her three children, Jeanine O’Donnell, John Tanner Jr., and Vicki Petalas, and was blessed to have spent time with her beloved grandchildren in the days prior. Kay was born and raised in the coal-mining region of Shamokin, PA. She played a strong role in supporting her family after the early death of her father. She studied nursing and became the first woman in her family to earn a college degree. In Pennsylvania, she met and married John Tanner. They settled in Bedford, NH where she dedicated herself not only to raising their three children, but also supporting John's engineering firm, Hoyle, Tanner and Associates. Later, Kay returned to nursing and balanced out work life with an extraordinary commitment to her grandchildren Cassidy, Colby, Skylar, Tanner, Jaan, Andres, and Maximilian. “Beazie” as her grandchildren loved to call her, shared compassion, acceptance, and wisdom - all of which she had in abundance. Besides family, Kay’s passions included playing the slots at the Brook, the Red Sox, eBay, attending Catholic mass daily, keeping up on news and politics, and picking hot stocks. She loved traveling to the Dominican Republic where she visited countless times with family and friends. In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her four siblings, Jack Klebasko, Joan Lario, Teresa Barker, and Gloria Nagle, many nieces and nephews and her children-in-law, Eric O’Donnell and Lenka Tanner, who she supported as much as her own children. It has been said, "When Kay came into a room, she lit it up with energy, and everyone was a better person when she left.” There are no words more true. In memory of the truly remarkable woman we experienced as a mother, grandmother, sibling, colleague, friend, patient, and compassionate stranger, we will do our best to emulate her many beautiful qualities. A celebration of life will be held on June 15th in the Seacoast area. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire by clicking here

Katherine "Kay" Tanner

July 30, 1941 - April 9, 2024