Kathleen S. Culotta
December 16, 1954 - February 27, 2023

Kathy S. (McMahon) Culotta

Rochester: February 27, 2023. Kathy is survived by her husband, Gary, of 43 years; children, Michael (Dr. Maria) Culotta, Leah (Darrin) Ruiz, & David Culotta; grandchildren, Angelina Culotta, Gabriella Culotta, Isabella Ruiz, & Dominic Ruiz; siblings, Bernie McMahon, Jr., James McMahon, & Carol Forman; brother-in-law, Robert Ryan; nieces, cousins & dear friends.

Lifestory of Kathleen S. Culotta

In Rochester, NY in the midst of the 1950's, Mildred and Bernie McMahon brought their second-born child home. Their blue-eyed daughter Kathleen was one of five in an Irish-Catholic working-class family. She grew up loving music and dancing, but mostly she was devout in her faith and church life.

Kathy graduated from John Marshall High School in 1973 with a Regents diploma. Down the road she held many positions, mainly in administrative work and management. Outside of work she enjoyed photography, and reading the newspaper (then talking about current events and politics). She often went to the gym. Kathy was very fashion-forward and always looked sharp.

Her commitment to daily mass led her to meet and eventually marry the love of her life, Gary Culotta. They united in 1979 at Holy Rosary Church and were married for 43 years. They were blessed with three beautiful children and four grandchildren.

Gary and Kathy would frequently go out to restaurants and get ice cream at Russell's. They enjoyed watching local bands play and frequently visited casinos and carnivals. Every summer they typically spent a couple of weeks in the Adirondack Mountains on Raquette Lake at Kathy's parent's cottage. The family also traveled to Jupiter, Florida around Easter time every year. There were countless trips to Niagara Falls, Lake George, and the Dominican Republic. They also visited their children in Long Island and NYC. Once, Kathy drove across the entire country to move her daughter from Arizona back to New York.

She always made sure to have her nails manicured and her hair freshly done. She liked to watch movies and true crime TV shows. She enjoyed sewing, baking, and cooking. She made some of the best cookies and macaroni and potato salad around. Kathy loved parties, Christmas time, St. Patrick's Day, and celebrating birthdays. She also liked giving and getting scratch-off lotto tickets.

Kathy was a loving and protective mother and a doting grandmother. Her husband and children took priority in her life. She was proud in raising her children to be productive, independent, and caring adults and helped to build the foundation for these same qualities in her grandchildren. She valued being genuine, honest, and down to earth. She was fiercely independent and one of the most loyal people you would ever meet. Kathy was very organized, detail-oriented, and generous. She often donated to organizations like St. Jude Children's Hospital and to others around her that were in need.

Kathy's story is one of resiliency, having overcome many physical setbacks throughout her life, but she never let them slow her down. She was determined to live life to the fullest. She is deeply loved and will be very missed. Kathy was a beautiful person inside and out, with an energy about her that was infectious. She displayed a tremendous amount of courage as she navigated through life with her faith and hope. Words cannot express how much she meant to all who loved her. The wonderful memories with her will be cherished. There is no doubt that Kathy will be a guiding angel forever into eternity.

Kathy's life story will be shared during her visitation at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.), Sunday, March 5th, 1-5 PM. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated, Monday, March 6th, 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, 296 Flower City Parkway. She will be laid to rest in Holy Ghost Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in Kathy's memory.

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