When Catherine “Kitty” Hartnett married the love of her life, Tom Witty, she took his last name. The name Kitty Witty could not have found a more suitable vessel. Like her name, she was cheerful, dramatic, musical, charming, and above all memorable. Having exhausted her nine lives, Kitty peacefully departed this world on Monday, May 6, 2024, at her home in Hayes, surrounded by loved ones.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Kitty attended Bishop England High School, where she was taught by nuns, and the College of Charleston, where, free of the nuns, she joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Kitty met Tom Witty in the choir at St. Jerome’s in Newport News, and their alto/tenor pairing proved a lifelong match. As each brought two children to their marriage, the inevitable “Brady Bunch” comparisons were not far off the mark, especially when they had a fifth child.
In 1982, the family moved to Gloucester, where they soon became enmeshed in the community they would call home the rest of their lives. Kitty served on the first Facility Use committee of Gloucester County and the Board of Directors of Rosewell Foundation. She painted a winning beehive for the 350th anniversary of Gloucester County in 2001. She also won countless ribbons at the Gloucester County Fair for her “Plum Peachy” jams and her watercolor paintings. And who can forget “Woman’s World,” the Gloucester cable television show that Kitty co-hosted for a period?
After Tom and the kids, music was the love of Kitty’s life. Step into a Sunday service at St. Therese Catholic Church at any time over the past 37 years, and you will have seen Kitty, Director of Music Ministry, leading the choir and cuing the congregation with her confident right hand. Kitty also taught music at Ware Academy. Her Irish pub band, Celtastrophe, recorded three albums and played venues across the Peninsula for 25 years. In addition to singing, she played the hammered dulcimer, the penny whistle, and several difficult to pronounce Irish instruments, often while drinking a pint of Guinness.
Her take-charge attitude, coupled with her love of music, drama, art, and community, found their perfect expression with the Court House Players, where she took part in over 65 productions, from directing, to acting, costumes, makeup, and set decoration.
At home, Kitty was an avid gardener, storyteller, crossword and Jumble solver, dog rescuer, and apple pie baker. Known as “Kiki” to her grandkids, she delighted in their company: playing Farkle, eating picnics on the screened porch, collecting blackberries, feeding the fish, or taking walks down the lane.
Kitty overcame obstacles with fortitude and grace. She will be remembered by all who knew and loved her for her positive spirit, her voice, and her generosity.
Kitty was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Edward Witty Jr., and her sister Joyce Hartnett. She is survived by her son, Stanford “Trey” Polonsky (Melissa); daughter, Courtney McManus (Scott) of Asheville, N.C.; son, Thomas Witty III (Jess) of Germantown, Md.; daughters, Leesa Gregory (Gordon) and Jill Witty (Graham Evarts) of Richmond, and grandchildren, Penny Polonsky, Asher and Bodhi McManus, August and Thomas Gregory, Ravenna, Theron and Alastair Evarts. Kitty is also survived by her brother, Thomas Hartnett (Bonnie) of Isle of Palms, S.C., and sister, Carole Colburn (Cork) of Arlington.
A Christian Funeral Liturgy conducted by the Rev. Jim Cowles will be held Monday, May 13, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Therese Catholic Church, Gloucester. The family will receive friends Sunday, May 12, 2024 from 3-4:30 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, 3098 George Washington Memorial Hwy., Hayes, Va. 23072. In memory of Kitty, contributions may be made to St. Therese Catholic Church, 6262 Main Street, Gloucester, Va. 23061 or St. Therese Catholic Church, ATTN: Bread for Life, 6262 Main Street, Gloucester, Va. 23061.
Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home.