Katherine T. (Hickson) FitzPatrick (Kay), passed away Thursday. Born in Concord, MA , she was the daughter of the late Stella Bridget O'Malley and Henry Hickson of Framingham and wife of the late Vincent FitzPatrick of Ashland. She resided in Framingham for most of her life, graduating from Framingham High School, Class of 1939. Katherine pursued a career in nursing, graduating from Framingham School of Nursing in 1942. She worked in the operating room at Framingham Union Hospital before joining the U.S.N. She served actively from 1944 to 1946, stationed in Oahu, Hawaii at AIIA Heights Hospital as a Lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corp of WW II. On her return home she was employed by FUH where she worked in the Med-Surg and OBS Departments until she went to work in the operating room. She was a supervisor for 25 years, retiring in 1988. She was a member and former director of the Framingham School of Nursing Alumni and a member of the Women in Military Service for America. Kay was a strong spirit, a survivor of life, whose motto was, "Laugh your way thru life." She is survived by her children: Kathleen Arnold of Framingham, Karen Burke of Yarmouth, Kim Campion of Natick and Dan Campion of Framingham; her grandchildren, Michael, Eric, and Katherine Campion, Kristen McCormick, and Shannon and Kevin Burke; her great-grandchildren, Destiny, Olivia, and Mason; her siblings, Mary Sloan of Framingham, John Hickson of Scituate, and Henry (Buster) Hickson of Boston. She was preceded in death by her son Denis FitzPatrick of Ashland who passed away in 1980 and her sister, Ann Oliveri of Worcester. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 16th, 9 AM at Saint Cecilia's Church, Ashland with interment to follow in Wildwood Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 15th from 5-7 PM at the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main Street, Ashland, MA.