Obituary for Kathryn E. Chamberlain
Kathryn E. Chamberlain, some highlights of her life
Kathryn Elizabeth Iams was born at Manistee, MI, on Sunday, February 15, 1948,
of musician-teacher parents Victor L. and Beatrice H. Iams.
In June, 1966 at graduation from Oakwood High School in OH, she was named class Valedictorian She sang a solo, and with another student shared a prize in a violin competition.
In June, 1970 she earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University, OH
While getting the degree in voice, she also completed requirements in music education and music history
In December, 1973 she earned a Master of Music degree from Bowling Green State University
While focusing on vocal performance and music history she also performed as a singer and dancer in
several College musical theater productions
August 3, 1974 she married Oliver Chamberlain, Jr. at Christ Episcopal Church, Plymouth, MA
Her parents were married there and her children were later baptized there, the ashes of Kathryn and Oliver
will each be placed in niches in the Flocken Columbarium there.
She considered in her family: Elizabeth Ann Chamberlain, born on October 15, 1969
Elizabeth was born at Bowling Green Hospital, of parents Oliver and Marcia L. Chamberlain, later divorced.
Her children with Oliver are: James Thomas on April 27, 1976
Margaret Emily on September 24, 1977
Carolyn Lee on June 5, 1980
They were born at Toledo Hospital in Toledo, OH.
September, 1992 she began teaching at McCarthy Middle School in Chelmsford, MA
She first taught sixth grade science and social studies then for most of her time there, science and math;
She had taken coursework in science and math, two of her teaching loves, while at Bowling Green.
October, 1992 she earned a Master of Education degree in Instruction and Administration of Reading from The University of Massachusetts Lowell. In the prior year, while working on the degree, she taught elementary students in the University Demonstration School; she loved reading with the children.
In 2008 she was elected to two consecutive three-year terms as President of the Chelmsford Federation of Teachers (AFT, AFL/CIO affiliate) She was known for her patience and problem solving.
She negotiated contracts for some 500 faculty and para-professional employees
June, 2014 she retired after twenty-two years of teaching sixth-grade math and science at McCarthy Middle School. She had many wonderful colleagues and friends there.
Additionally, she had taught six years in other schools before teaching at Chelmsford
For many years Kathryn was a lead soprano in the choirs of All Saints Episcopal Church, Chelmsford, Grace Episcopal Church, Providence, and others.
January, 2015 She and Oliver retired to a Cape Cod style cottage on Bretton Woods Drive, Cranston, RI. They greatly enjoyed partnering on improving both house and grounds.
Kathryn E. Chamberlain died peacefully in her sleep on August 8, 2022, in hospice care at home, of cholangiocarcinoma which she valiantly fought over the course of mid-2021-22. Kathryn and Oliver celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary in the week prior. She was surrounded in her last weeks by her loving family and friends.
A memorial service for Kathryn Chamberlain will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Providence, RI on Sunday, August 28 at 2pm with a reception following in the connected Pavilion. There will be much music and fond talks about Kathryn. All are welcome!
Grace Episcopal Church, is at 300 Westminster St., Providence, RI. For directions and other information go to the church website www.gracechurchprovidence.org and click on Visitors’ Guide. Entrances to the Church are at Westminster St., or through the Pavilion entered at Chapel St. at the rear of the main church building.
In lieu of flowers or tree, kindly consider at donation in her name to the Rhode Island Hospital Cancer Center, or to Grace Episcopal Church, Providence, for the fund for improvement of the church organ.
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Kathryn Elizabeth Iams was born at Manistee, MI, on Sunday, February 15, 1948,
of musician-teacher parents Victor L. and Beatrice H. Iams.
In June, 1966 at graduation from Oakwood High School in OH, she was named class Valedictorian She sang a solo, and with another student shared a prize in a violin competition.
In June, 1970 she earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University, OH
While getting the degree in voice, she also completed requirements in music education and music history
In December, 1973 she earned a Master of Music degree from Bowling Green State University
While focusing on vocal performance and music history she also performed as a singer and dancer in
several College musical theater productions
August 3, 1974 she married Oliver Chamberlain, Jr. at Christ Episcopal Church, Plymouth, MA
Her parents were married there and her children were later baptized there, the ashes of Kathryn and Oliver
will each be placed in niches in the Flocken Columbarium there.
She considered in her family: Elizabeth Ann Chamberlain, born on October 15, 1969
Elizabeth was born at Bowling Green Hospital, of parents Oliver and Marcia L. Chamberlain, later divorced.
Her children with Oliver are: James Thomas on April 27, 1976
Margaret Emily on September 24, 1977
Carolyn Lee on June 5, 1980
They were born at Toledo Hospital in Toledo, OH.
September, 1992 she began teaching at McCarthy Middle School in Chelmsford, MA
She first taught sixth grade science and social studies then for most of her time there, science and math;
She had taken coursework in science and math, two of her teaching loves, while at Bowling Green.
October, 1992 she earned a Master of Education degree in Instruction and Administration of Reading from The University of Massachusetts Lowell. In the prior year, while working on the degree, she taught elementary students in the University Demonstration School; she loved reading with the children.
In 2008 she was elected to two consecutive three-year terms as President of the Chelmsford Federation of Teachers (AFT, AFL/CIO affiliate) She was known for her patience and problem solving.
She negotiated contracts for some 500 faculty and para-professional employees
June, 2014 she retired after twenty-two years of teaching sixth-grade math and science at McCarthy Middle School. She had many wonderful colleagues and friends there.
Additionally, she had taught six years in other schools before teaching at Chelmsford
For many years Kathryn was a lead soprano in the choirs of All Saints Episcopal Church, Chelmsford, Grace Episcopal Church, Providence, and others.
January, 2015 She and Oliver retired to a Cape Cod style cottage on Bretton Woods Drive, Cranston, RI. They greatly enjoyed partnering on improving both house and grounds.
Kathryn E. Chamberlain died peacefully in her sleep on August 8, 2022, in hospice care at home, of cholangiocarcinoma which she valiantly fought over the course of mid-2021-22. Kathryn and Oliver celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary in the week prior. She was surrounded in her last weeks by her loving family and friends.
A memorial service for Kathryn Chamberlain will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Providence, RI on Sunday, August 28 at 2pm with a reception following in the connected Pavilion. There will be much music and fond talks about Kathryn. All are welcome!
Grace Episcopal Church, is at 300 Westminster St., Providence, RI. For directions and other information go to the church website www.gracechurchprovidence.org and click on Visitors’ Guide. Entrances to the Church are at Westminster St., or through the Pavilion entered at Chapel St. at the rear of the main church building.
In lieu of flowers or tree, kindly consider at donation in her name to the Rhode Island Hospital Cancer Center, or to Grace Episcopal Church, Providence, for the fund for improvement of the church organ.
To send flowers or plant a tree in memory of Kathryn E. Chamberlain, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Service
Sunday
28
Aug
2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
Grace Church
Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
If you can not make the Service in person, you can watch live or at anytime in the future at the link above
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