Peabody - Kathleen “Kathy” Marie (Howlett) Lapham, age 76, entered into eternal life on Sunday, October 1st at Beverly Hospital after a prolonged illness.

A lifetime resident of Peabody, Kathy was the daughter of the late Harold and Helen (Sullivan) Howlett. Kathy was a graduate of Bishop Fenwick class of 1964 and Emmanuel College class of 1968. After college, she embarked on a career as a devoted teacher in the Peabody School District, first as a French teacher at Peabody High School, retiring as a 7th grade history teacher at Higgins Middle School.

Kathy married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” E. Lapham of Salem, MA. They settled down in her childhood home to raise their family, creating a life that spanned 50 years of cook outs, trips to Maine, trying out new restaurants and welcoming their most cherished grandchildren. Kathy had a passion for cooking, had a soft spot for all things French, joyfully sang along to her favorite 50/60s tunes, and enjoyed any day spent by the sea. But her real love was her family and the friends she made along the way through a beautiful life of 76 years.

Kathy leaves behind a catalog of much loved family recipes, unintentional comedic moments, an impressive collection of themed salt and pepper shakers, and enough cook books to fill a culinary museum. She truly gifted her family with memories to last a lifetime.

In addition to her husband, Robert, Kathy is survived by her sons, Mark Lapham and his wife, Shannon of Summerville, SC and Michael Lapham of Philadelphia, PA; her daughter, Maureen Veiga and her husband, Justin of Peabody; her grandchildren, Jack Lapham, Kate Lapham, Reagan Lapham, Alex Lapham and Lillian Veiga. She was predeceased by her brother, Jeff Howlett of Marblehead.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral services will be private. Assisting the family with the arrangements is the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Kathy’s memory to the Brian D Silber Memorial Fund, MGH Development Office, Suite 540, 125 Nashua St., Boston, MA 02114.