Katherine "Kay" Zimmerman

Katherine (Kay) Brennan Zimmerman formerly of Havertown, PA passed away peacefully Friday, September 3, 2021, at her home in Rehoboth Beach, DE, just shy of her 90th birthday. Her parents Beatrice and John Brennan were proud Irish immigrants, and she was the eldest of three (Ann and Jacqueline). Kay married Joseph (Joe) Zimmerman in the snowstorm of February 12, 1955.

Kay was a graduate of West Catholic High School and a longstanding member of St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Drexel Hill, PA. She was a real estate agent and medical office administrator, but she was devoted to her family. She loved Joe, her children, and embraced her role as Grandmom and Nana.

Kay was a master cook in the kitchen, holding no firm belief in either overcooking or undercooking, maintaining expertise in both areas, putting dinner on the table every night at 6:00. Her children remember her creative ground beef and potato boil, and her grandchildren her “specialty chocolate” cake (a/k/a the Hershey cocoa recipe that is actually quite good). Kay was the master of the bagged lunch. While talking to Joe during their nightly telephone calls when he was on the road, she would assemble the bags, bologna sandwiches, and an apple for the entire crew, night after night.

Although Joe was the self-professed engineer, Kay was the one who fixed appliances and vacuums, stripped and stained entire bedroom sets, and reupholstered chairs. Kay was an avid reader, often absorbed in the abridged best sellers in the monthly Readers Digest. A reading habit passed down from Kay and Joe to all of their children.

As a medical “professional” and prescription drug hoarder, Kay would evaluate symptoms, grab a random pill from the medicine cabinet and often a shot of whiskey and send the patient away - whether to bed or to the prom, depending on the severity of conditions.

Kay and Joe will be remembered for epic New Year’s Eve parties, summer weekends at their friends’ shore houses, poker night, bridge night, and for lifelong friendships from the “old neighborhood”.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph “Joe”; her son, Joseph “Joe”; and her sister, Jacqueline “Jackie” Polkowski. Kay leaves behind her children: Catherine Zimmerman (Joe), John Zimmerman (Nancy), Kathryn “Kathy” Zimmerman, Marie Bedard (Steve), Robert “Bob” Zimmerman, and Richard “Rick” Zimmerman (Robb Kimbles); her grandchildren: Allison Dudley (Jess), Andrew Zimmerman (Clare), Kristen Flynn (Dan), Catherine “Catie” Mingey (Jake), Maura Miller (Eric), Joseph "Joey" Zimmerman, Kevin Zimmerman, Alexandra “Ali” Weathers (Landrum), Stephanie Bedard, David Bedard, Ann Zimmerman, Colleen Zimmerman, Erik Zimmerman, Julia Zimmerman, and Eliza Zimmerman; her great-grandchildren: Sam, Savannah, and Emily Dudley, Kerry and Maeve Zimmerman, Danny and Colin Flynn, and Ren and Anna Weathers; her sister Ann Tumelty; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to express our thanks for the wonderful staff and care given by Brandywine at Seaside Point, Senior Living and Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care of Delaware.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit the family on Wednesday, September 29 from 9:30-10:20 AM at St. Bernadette Church, 1001 Turner Ave, Drexel Hill, PA and to her Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment at Saints Peter & Paul, Springfield, PA.

Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.