PORTLAND — Kathleen “Katie” Dailey sadly passed away on Jan. 27, 2023, at the age of 73. She left us far too soon.
The youngest of five children, Katie was born in Hartford, Conn., to Vincent and Margaret Dailey. She attended and graduated from South Catholic High School in 1967. Katie grew up with a strong sense of her Irish heritage.
Katie married her high school senior prom date and best friend, Ralph Greco, in 1971. Their love of travel and adventure eventually brought them to Brooks, where they raised their daughters Vanessa and Micaela and made many lifelong friends.
After Ralph’s unexpected death, in her new role as a single mom, Katie enrolled in the RN nursing program at UMaine-Augusta. She graduated in 1992 with high honors. Despite the challenges, it was the perfect pathway for her. Initially working at the Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast, Katie spent most of her career with KNO-WAL-LIN Home Health Care, also in Belfast. Katie loved caring for patients in their homes, where they were most comfortable.
After many years of helping people regain their health, Katie found her place in the hospice community. She brought kindness, attentiveness and comfort to her patients and their families as they moved on to their next chapter. She found great peace in her career and left a lasting impression on the families she served. After many years with the hospice program, Katie retired and moved to Portland to be closer to her family.
Katie was blessed with a large and loving family and a multitude of close friends. She was a healer at heart, always making time for others, selflessly offering them strength, comfort and friendship.
She leaves behind her sister, Margaret (Peg) Johnson of Yarmouth; her daughters Vanessa D. Greco and Micaela D. Greco, sons-in-law Ralph Graceffa and Michael Sterris, and grandchildren Carmella and Lucia Graceffa of Cumberland Center, and Lena and Wyatt Sterris of North Yarmouth. Katie will also be remembered by many nieces and nephews and close friends. For those loved ones who passed before her, it is our hope that she will be reunited with them in spirit.
Katie was a devoted and loving Nonna. In her last years on this earth, her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren, who were a shining light in her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Sterris/Graceffa Memorial Fund, c/o Camden National Bank, 240 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth, ME 04105, to benefit her grandchildren’s college educations.
Please remember Katie as she was, for she will live on in our hearts and memories. Services will be private. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at ripostafh.com.
