Kathleen (Kathy) Sarah Banks went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Kathy was born in Dublin, Ireland on January 2, 1939, to William and Kathleen Duffy, and was one of eight children. Her family moved to London, England when she was a young child. There she met the love of her life, James Banks (Jim), who was in the United States Air Force. They were married on March 8, 1958, and welcomed their first daughter, Beverly, while stationed in England. Their next assignment took them to Riverside, California, where their second daughter, Rhonda was born. Kathy was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and Nana who took great pride in providing a home filled with love and many homecooked meals and desserts. Kathy was an avid baker, and her mincemeat pies, cakes, and cookies were always a hit with their neighbors and friends.

Due to Jim’s many military reassignments that took them to Germany, California, Washington, Maryland, and Virginia, they didn’t have a long-term home base until Jim retired to Hampton, VA in 1975. Jim & Kathy then moved to Gloucester, Virginia in the early 1980’s and lived there until Jim’s passing in 2023.

In her career, Kathy worked as an accountant for Montgomery Wards before beginning what would be a successful career in banking at Chesapeake Bank, reaching the role of Bank Manager before her retirement in 2010.

Kathy’s biggest blessings in her life were her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Kathy loved being “Nana” to all her grandchildren. It was not unlike her to come and pick up all five grandchildren and have them with her for the entire weekend. She loved taking them to the movies, the beach, shopping, or the bowling alley. But her favorite time with them was teaching them to bake, building forts out of sheets and blankets, allowing them to wear her jewelry and clothing for playing dress-up and watching the movie, The Sound of Music. Each Christmas she would allow her house to become a winter wonderland by having the grandchildren decorate Gingerbread houses and the Christmas tree. Every surface in her kitchen, including her dog,  was covered with icing and candies but she loved the mess. As the grandchildren grew up, she spent many hours on the phone with each of them after they moved away, listening to their stories and offering advice where she could. She was a constant source of guidance in their lives and will forever be missed by each of them. She was fortunate enough to get to know all four of her great grandchildren. Kathy’s Irish spirit, her love of life, and her empathy will never be forgotten. The family takes comfort knowing that she is up in heaven reunited with her husband, Jim, her parents William and Kathleen, her sister Margaret, brothers William and Frederick, and her beloved poodles.

Kathy is survived by her daughters Beverly Castonguay (John) and Rhonda Everton (Eric), her grandchildren Jack Castonguay, Kelsey Beville (Mike), Rachel Schuetz, April Conard (Anthony) and Hannah Everton, and her great grandchildren Harper, Collins, and Cooper (children of Kelsey & Mike) and Holly (daughter of Rachel). Kathy also leaves behind a sister, Daisy, in Arkansas, sisters Anita, Alice and Martha in England and many nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a private celebration of life for Kathy.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Society or the American Cancer Society.