Obituary for Katherine A. Dawson (Davies)
Katherine Anne Dawson, 68, of Lemoyne passed away peacefully at home, in the early morning of March 13th, 2023, with her four loving sons at her side, and following a courageous and willful seven-year battle with cancer.
Born on December 31st, 1954, in Yonkers, NY, she is the daughter of the late Arlene M. Davies and David J. Davies, Sr.
A 1973 graduate of Trinity High School in Camp Hill, PA, Katherine went on to study nursing at College Misericordia, graduating with a BSN in 1977. She eventually earned her MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree from Widener University in 2003, following her time as a successful staff nurse and teacher, faithful wife, and devoted full-time mother of four boys.
Having witnessed the prolonged illness and premature death of her father to emphysema, Katherine dedicated the second half of her career to Palliative medicine, and left an indelible mark on her patients, their respective families, colleagues and profession.
A 2007 Pennsylvania State Florence Nightingale Award Finalist, Katherine was also featured in an essay by N. Dahl, MS II, which won first place at the 2011 National Gold Foundation in Medicine Essay Contest, characterizing her as “a walking example of what empathy in medicine looks like.”
But Katherine would be the first to tell you, her greatest passion and focus was that of her family and close friends. She received tremendous joy from attending the professional and recreational activities of her children, siblings, nieces and nephews, her grandchildren, other family and close friends, whether it was the countless sporting events and school concerts, traveling to celebrate birthdays, and numerous other festivities and gatherings.
No doubt, Katherine, aka Grandma Kate, Ma Kate and Mom, loved to be surrounded by family and friends, and her boundless energy and contagious passion for all things Life will be missed dearly.
She is survived by her four children, Drew Dawson (Meredith) of Guilford, CT, David Dawson (Alaina) of Camp Hill, PA, Michael Dawson (Angela) of Parrish, FL, and Joseph Dawson (Amanda) of Mount Pleasant, SC; eight grandchildren, Jack, Madelyn, Luke, Rowan, Carys, Liam, Lila and Owen, with a ninth on the way (July, 2023); siblings, David J. Davies, Jr. (Kathleen), Robert C. Davies and Mary C. Davies; nieces and nephews, Alexandra Blakeslee (Sam), Michael Sweeney (Amanda), Joseph Sweeney (Nicole), Juliana Alvelo-Davies and Victoria Davies; a sister-in-law, Donna Davies; dear friends and esteemed colleagues.
Friends and family are invited to calling hours (Visitation) on Thursday, April 6th, 2023, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Myers-Baker Funeral Home (1903 Market St, Camp Hill, PA 17011). A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Good Friday, April 7th, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Parish (1300 Bridge Street, New Cumberland, PA, 17070), with an interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery (116 South Oak Grove Road, Harrisburg, PA, 17112). Myers-Baker Funeral & Cremation Services, Camp Hill, has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Homeland Hospice (https://www.homelandcenter.org/giving.html) and Saint Francis Assisi Soup Kitchen (https://stfranciskitchen.harnessapp.com/wv2/donate), or to a charity of your choosing.
Born on December 31st, 1954, in Yonkers, NY, she is the daughter of the late Arlene M. Davies and David J. Davies, Sr.
A 1973 graduate of Trinity High School in Camp Hill, PA, Katherine went on to study nursing at College Misericordia, graduating with a BSN in 1977. She eventually earned her MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree from Widener University in 2003, following her time as a successful staff nurse and teacher, faithful wife, and devoted full-time mother of four boys.
Having witnessed the prolonged illness and premature death of her father to emphysema, Katherine dedicated the second half of her career to Palliative medicine, and left an indelible mark on her patients, their respective families, colleagues and profession.
A 2007 Pennsylvania State Florence Nightingale Award Finalist, Katherine was also featured in an essay by N. Dahl, MS II, which won first place at the 2011 National Gold Foundation in Medicine Essay Contest, characterizing her as “a walking example of what empathy in medicine looks like.”
But Katherine would be the first to tell you, her greatest passion and focus was that of her family and close friends. She received tremendous joy from attending the professional and recreational activities of her children, siblings, nieces and nephews, her grandchildren, other family and close friends, whether it was the countless sporting events and school concerts, traveling to celebrate birthdays, and numerous other festivities and gatherings.
No doubt, Katherine, aka Grandma Kate, Ma Kate and Mom, loved to be surrounded by family and friends, and her boundless energy and contagious passion for all things Life will be missed dearly.
She is survived by her four children, Drew Dawson (Meredith) of Guilford, CT, David Dawson (Alaina) of Camp Hill, PA, Michael Dawson (Angela) of Parrish, FL, and Joseph Dawson (Amanda) of Mount Pleasant, SC; eight grandchildren, Jack, Madelyn, Luke, Rowan, Carys, Liam, Lila and Owen, with a ninth on the way (July, 2023); siblings, David J. Davies, Jr. (Kathleen), Robert C. Davies and Mary C. Davies; nieces and nephews, Alexandra Blakeslee (Sam), Michael Sweeney (Amanda), Joseph Sweeney (Nicole), Juliana Alvelo-Davies and Victoria Davies; a sister-in-law, Donna Davies; dear friends and esteemed colleagues.
Friends and family are invited to calling hours (Visitation) on Thursday, April 6th, 2023, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Myers-Baker Funeral Home (1903 Market St, Camp Hill, PA 17011). A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Good Friday, April 7th, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Parish (1300 Bridge Street, New Cumberland, PA, 17070), with an interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery (116 South Oak Grove Road, Harrisburg, PA, 17112). Myers-Baker Funeral & Cremation Services, Camp Hill, has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Homeland Hospice (https://www.homelandcenter.org/giving.html) and Saint Francis Assisi Soup Kitchen (https://stfranciskitchen.harnessapp.com/wv2/donate), or to a charity of your choosing.