Kathleen Anna Bruce

Thursday, May 12, 20162:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDTSimpson Funeral & Cremation ServicesMonaca Location1199 Washington Ave.Monaca, PA 15061(724) 728-4000Driving Directions

Friday, May 13, 201611:00 AM EDTSimpson Funeral & Cremation ServicesMonaca Location1199 Washington Ave.Monaca, PA 15061(724) 728-4000Driving Directions

Kathleen Anna Bruce was a warm spirited woman, a devoted wife and mother, a \”master\” gardener with flowers and gardens envied by all, and an owner of a heart made of gold. She enjoyed a life richly adorned by many close family members and friends sharing countless cherished memories and celebrations throughout the years. Her sense of hospitality and joy will be greatly missed in the years to come.The Roaring Twenties was a period of sustained economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge. Jazz music was booming, the nation’s industry was seeing large scale growth which brought about significant changes in lifestyle and culture. With the media focused on celebrities, especially sports heroes and movie figures, John and Barbara McCue welcomed their own star, a newborn daughter, Kay born on April 15, 1925, joining her older brother, Bill.Kay’s childhood was richly blessed with a very sweet Aunt Ann and her Uncles Fred and Joe who loved to play tricks on her and her cousins. The families enjoyed many special occasions at the family camp outside Zelienople. These get-togethers of swimming in the creek, playing baseball, card games and the dreaded “walk to the outhouse,” were treasured memories she shared with her close cousins, Ruth and Betty. Remembering the old camp wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the O’Leary’s, the Lindens, and Bill and Catherine Christopher, all relatives, who joined in on those warm summer days filled with antics and laughter. In Kay’s junior year of high school, the family moved to Rochester, Pennsylvania. Every male in her class except one, and several of the females, served in World War II. Indeed, she was a part of a great generation.After graduation, Kay worked at Curtiss-Wright in Beaver. During those years, she met “Red,” a handsome sailor of her own. Their courtship included movies at the Oriental Theater, seeing Big Bands in downtown Pittsburgh, roller skating, and their favorite, dancing. They were well known for stealing the limelight on the dance floor and their own special song was “Apple Blossom Time,” by the Andrews Sisters. Kay and Stu’s marriage of sixty eight years began on May 17, 1944 with a luncheon at the Penn Beaver Hotel and a beautiful reception at her parent’s home. Red was stationed at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, also known as the site of the Hindenburg disaster. After the war, the young couple bought their first home on Lacock Street in Rochester. Red began working for the Pennsylvania Railroad now commonly known as Norfolk Southern. Together, they raised seven endearing children; Bill, Rain (short for Lorraine), Diane, Jan, Kathy, Nancy and Rick. Soon, their modest two bedroom home was replaced by a five bedroom home on Delaware Avenue in Rochester, which served the family well for over fifty years! A favorite pastime was sitting on the front porch with their view of the charming Beaver River.There wasn’t a holiday that wasn’t special to Kay. Without fail, every Christmas Eve, Kay would declare \”This is the best Christmas ever!\” She loved entertaining her large family including eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She certainly had more than enough experience to be a cook and banquet server at Didio’s Restaurant which was a short walk across the street! There were two things that remained constant all these years, family vacations and time at the “new family camp” which is just a few miles up the road from the old one. Some of the games have changed, yet the kids still relish in the swimming and fishing in the Connoquenessing Creek. Many of the old favorite campfire songs that filled the evening air have evolved into Bill’s strumming some Buffett or newer tunes. With Kay’s cousin Ruth’s family owning the camp next door, Ruth and Herm, Jim, Bob and Dot, and Tom and Peg are interwoven in many treasured family memories.Kay lived her life to the fullest. She enjoyed many car trips to both the New York and Canadian side of the Niagara Falls. She also visited Geneva, Ohio and both Conneaut, Ohio and Conneaut, Pennsylvania and as well as many amusement parks. She and Red visited California, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City. Their favorite trip by far was one to Ships Bottom, New Jersey where they stuffed two cars full of nine kids, both sets of parents, the Borza cousins and two grandmas without any reservations! Luckily, upon arrival, they found a wonderful beach house and filled their days with sand castles, mini golf, sand crabs, swimming in the salty ocean, and piling onto the floor giggling until they finally fell asleep. Kay and Red also loved road trips to Buffalo, New York to visit their niece, Michele. There, they were treated like royalty. Michele and Tim hosted amazing three day Christmas parties with catered meals and dancing, as well as summer pool parties, family weddings and the laughter never seemed to end. Often times, Kay would be sure to purchase special outfits for these occasions and loved to relish in the special joy of sharing time with her sweet niece and nephew. Over the last twenty-five years, the family vacations were centered around the beautiful Destin, Florida. Kay and Red cherished these trips with mixed generations of kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Their favorite spot was the Jetty East. The beach still called them both, and they made it to the water’s edge with the help of canes, and their loving son, Rick. Kay could always be spotted in the pool, enjoying “Irish Ditties” at McGuire’s Pub, sharing meals at Pandora’s and appreciating a good happy hour at Hurricane Lanes. Her favorite spot however, was the pavilion where Rick worked his magic on the grill. As recently as this past September, she enjoyed a visit where she still ventured into the pool and made sure there were no \”fumars\” in the elevators!Even in her later years, Kay awoke each day with a positive outlook on life. Kay would quip, \”I’m no dummy. I had five daughters; they take good care of me.\”, and when being served breakfast in bed, \”I like living here.\” Despite the company of her large family, after her sweetheart passed away in October of 2012, she felt a deep loneliness without him. Sadly, Kay died at the age of 91. There is no doubt that Red, together with his beautiful bride, are peacefully dancing their nights away. She and the many favorite memories that she left behind will surely be shared for generations to come.Kathleen Anna ‘Kay’ Bruce, 91, of Rochester, passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday evening, May 10, 2016, surrounded by her cherished family. Kay was the beloved ‘bride’ for 68 years of Howard ‘Red’ Bruce, daughter of John and Barbara (Strobel) McCue and sister to Bill (Dorothy) McCue, all who preceded her in death.Mom was our joy and lovingly raised Bill (Joyce) Bruce and Janet (Ken) Biskup, all of Center Township; Lorraine Suica, Nancy Biskup and Rick Bruce, all of Rochester; Diane (Ron) Mento of Beaver and Kathy (Mike) VanDoren of Lakeland, FL.‘Gram’ will be missed by her grandchildren, Bill, Dan and Tom Baker, Joe McFarland, Brandy Norton, Mike Suica, Jim and Amy Biskup, Jenn Wilcoxson, Rick Bruce, Aaron VanDoren, and their spouses, along with 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was ‘Aunt Kay’ to several dear nieces and nephews.A retired cook and banquet server at Didio’s Restaurant, Mom enjoyed family holidays, beach vacations, Saturday game days, time at the family camp and especially working in her garden.Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. in the Simpson Funeral & Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Ave., Monaca, where funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. Pastor Michael Sourwine of House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Aliquippa, will officiate.Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery.We thank Dr. Tim Jackson and Michele and Dianah of Kindred at Home Hospice for their care and support.To share online condolences, get directions and other information, please visit simpsonfuneralhome.com.