Obituary of Catherine Kirkiles

Catherine Kirkiles, 85 of Greenwich, died peacefully at home on October 24, 2016 surrounded by her loved ones. Born May 2, 1931, in New York, NY, she was the daughter of George and Athena Sortis. In 1955, Catherine started volunteering as an American National Red Cross Gray Lady, at Fort Bragg Auxiliary, in North Carolina. Her duties included working in Occupational Therapy and OB-GYN Clinics. She was first married to Col. Obel H. “Obie” Wells, and they later divorced. On October 12, 1968, she married Charles Kirkiles of New York, NY. They had resided in Riverdale, NY before moving to Greenwich, Conn. in 1978. Having moved out of the city, Catherine quickly found pleasure in gardening and other outdoor hobbies, while enjoying the company of her three German Shepherds; Lisa, Heidi, and Lugar. Catherine was always the life of the party, and loved to entertain. She never missed a beat; she danced well into the night into her eighties with her grandchildren. From an early age, Catherine often sung along to her favorite country tunes. This love of song later developed into a greater appreciation of music with her talented grandchildren. Above all, Catherine will be remembered for her faith, devotion to her husband, sons, extended family, friends, and most importantly her grandchildren. As a cancer survivor, she lived her life to the fullest and encouraged others to do the same through example. She was known for her vivacious personality, and occasional unorthodox sense of humor. Catherine had an unwavering ability to leave a lasting impression on the lives of everyone that she met; young and old. “And she hated politics.” Catherine was a devoted mother of two sons, George Wells of Greenwich, who predeceased her, and Michael Wells of Goldens Bridge, NY. She is also survived by her husband of 48 years, Charles Kirkiles of Greenwich; daughter-in-laws Voula Lekas Wells of Greenwich and Helen Wells of Goldens Bridge, NY, and her loving grandchildren Konstantine and Katharine Wells of Greenwich; and Steven, Nicholas, and Andrew Wells of Goldens Bridge, NY. Family and friends may call, Thursday October 27, 2016 from five o’clock in the evening till eight o’clock at Fred D. Knapp & Son Funeral Home, 267 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich. A service to celebrate Catherine’s life will be held on Friday October 28, 2016 10:30 AM at the Church of the Archangels, 1527 Bedford Street, Stamford. CT. Internment will immediately follow at Putnam Cemetery, 35 Parsonage Road, Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Foundation, 710 W. 168th St. 9th FL., New York, NY 10032. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Catherine Kirkiles, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.