Obituaries

Kay Luff, 75; New Canaan Resident Who Was Active in Many Catholic Charities

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, April 9 with the funeral scheduled for Thursday, April 10.


Kathryn Luff, devoted mother, grandmother and active resident of New Canaan for 42 years passed away on April 7, 2014 in her home. She was 75.

She was born on Aug. 26, 1938 in Oak Park, IL, the daughter of Paul and Bernice Kelly Desmond.

Kathryn or Kay to all who knew her, graduated from Florida State 
University where she received a B.A. in Business and Fashion Design. After 
a successful career in management with Bell Telephone in Chicago, she 
married Gerald Luff Jr. and started a family of six children.

She was a Dame of Malta and was active in many Catholic charities including Malta House, St. Catherine Academy, teaching CCD, Birth Rite and the Lourdes pilgrimages. Many in the community also knew Kay as the author of the "Mary Talk" for the Emmaus Retreats. 

Kay was a devout Catholic and an active parishioner at St. Aloysius 
in New Canaan for 33 years and most recently of St. Mary's Church in 
Norwalk for 9 years. She shared a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. Kay also 
enjoyed gardening and was a member of the New Canaan Garden Club for 10 years.

Kay loved Sprite Island in the summers and Naples FL in the winters. Kay was also a founding member of the "Diner Ditzs" and the "Motherhouse Sisterhood". She had a playful sense of humor, an infectious smile and lively personality that touched many. 

Mrs. Luff is survived by her children; Jerry Luff of Petaluma, CA, Kelly Weldon of Wilton, Jeffrey Luff of Oxford, Jennifer Mitchell of Ridgefield, and Bradley Luff of Montvale, NJ; 12 grandchildren and her siblings, Joanne and Paul. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald "Jerry" M. Luff Jr. and her youngest daughter Valerie Ann Luff.

Calling hours at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St., New Canaan, will be held Wednesday April 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be held Thursday April 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Norwalk.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation in memory of Kay Luff to St. Catherine Academy in Fairfield and/or 
Malta House in Norwalk. 


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