Kathleen Boston Sidaris

Kathleen passed away peacefully in her home in Irvine at the age of 92 with family at her side. She was born in Ellsworth, Kansas, to Mildred Mae Boston (née Shoemaker) and Frederick Meryweather Boston. Growing up on the family farm, she attended elementary school through 8th grade in a one-room school house, often riding her horse to school. She stayed in town in a boarding house to attend Lincoln High School. After high school she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, roomed with her sister, Jean, and took a job as a bookkeeper at Omaha National Bank. She was introduced to her future husband in the Saddle Creek bar in Omaha in the early 1950s. She moved to Long Beach, California, in 1953 to marry Nicholas James Sidaris.

Kathy was a 49-year resident of Cypress, CA, where she and Nick raised their five children. She was an avid gardener with a yard full of vegetables and flowers, and was active in her children's Girl Scout and Cypress Aquatics Swim Team activities, often as treasurer of fundraising activities. After being widowed in 1982 with two teen-aged children still at home, Kathy took a retail job at Knott's Berry Farm and was a retail manager when she retired in 1994. After her retirement Kathy became an avid traveler taking many trips and tours all around the US, making friends along the way. In her travels, she flew in a helicopter and a 2-seater plane, rafted and camped on the Salmon River, camped in Montana, Utah, Arizona, and Washington state; hiked in the US southwest National Parks, rode horses, and camped to help on cattle ranches in Montana, and cruised the Greek Isles. She last rode a horse at age 83 in Montana. Kathy was an avid Dodgers fan for over 65 years and met the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, California Chrome, in "person" at the Los Alamitos race track. She was a member of the Cypress Women's Club and the Retired Military Officer Wives Club in Seal Beach, acting as treasurer of both organizations. She loved singing with a women's choral group and at the church at the Seal Beach Naval Air station and volunteered at the Cypress Library for many years. Upon moving to Irvine, she became active in the resident activities, enjoying new friends, playing mahjong, organizing the library, and of course, as treasurer of the Residents' Council. Kathy loved being with people and having fun. She especially loved our large family get-togethers.

Kathleen was predeceased by her husband, Nick, her parents, and her siblings Jean Boston Clymer and George Boston. Kathleen was beloved mother to her children and their spouses Cindy Sidaris (Shannon Lynch), Linda Chapman (Dick), Helen Dunford, Jim (Maureen), and Natalie Newburry (Keith), and beloved grandmother to her 11 grandchildren and their spouses/partners Chris (Courtney), Katie (Jon), and Andy (Allison) Chapman; Alyssa and Amy (David) Dunford; Taylor (Emily) and Cameron Lynch; Nick and Will Sidaris; and Austin and Dylan Newburry. She is also survived by dear friends in Washington State, Montana, and Cypress, Ca.
She lived her life with grace and strength, acceptance and humor. We are so grateful to have had her in our lives for so many years. She will be deeply missed by many. At her request, there will be no services. Email ksidarisfamily@gmail.com to contact her family.