Kathleen Mary Erichson, 74, a longtime Poughkeepsie resident, died peacefully at home on March 1, 2023, with her family by her side.

Kathy was a breast cancer survivor in 2006. In May 2022, Kathy was diagnosed with stage 3C lung cancer, which she ultimately succumbed to after a valiant and hard-fought battle.

Born November 5, 1948, in the Bronx, she was the daughter of Walter Alexander Kennedy and Agnes Mary Malcolm Kennedy. She was a graduate of Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak and attended the Berkeley Business School in New York City.

On July 31, 1971, at the Colonial Terrace in Peekskill, she married Edward William Erichson. He predeceased her in 1986.

After raising her young family and the premature death of her husband, Kathy reentered the workforce at Gilman Ciocia, a financial services firm in Poughkeepsie. She retired in 2013 after over twenty years of service.

When her children were young, Kathy was active with the Violet Avenue School PTA, and was always devoted to her children's and grandchildren's athletic events and achievements.

She was a champion of the less fortunate and always rooted for the underdog. She routinely brought extra food to the baseball field for kids from the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie and insisting that they hop in the truck to head out for ice cream. Mrs. Erichson was known as the team mom before there was even such a thing.

If there was a stray dog or cat in the neighborhood, Kathy was the caregiver until she could find a permanent home, if they could not call her home their permanent home.

Mrs. Erichson was a member of the Morning Muffins Bowling League at the former Hoe-Bowl Bowling Lanes in Hyde Park and a volunteer for the Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club, a club in which her husband was a co-founder.

She loved gathering at holidays with her family, and traveling to Cancun, Mexico.

Survivors include her daughter, Jennifer Erichson Clum, and husband, Steven P. Clum, of Montgomery; son, Scott Erichson, of Poughkeepsie; three grandchildren, Wynn Erichson, Evan Clum (Paige), and Brooklyn Clum; one great-granddaughter, Illia Clum; and sister, Maureen Kennedy, and partner, James O. Goring, of Poughkeepsie.

In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place.

Kathleen's family respectfully requests memorial donations to the Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 80 Washington St., Suite 204, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. (www.hvhospice.org)

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet's Funeral Home, Inc., Rte. 9, Hyde Park.

To send an online condolence, please visit Kathy's obituary page at www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.