Folsom Funeral Service

Katharine M. “Kay” Whitney, 89, of Walpole, passed from this life on April 26, 2017, after a brief hospitalization. Kay was the daughter of the late John MacDuffie II and Evelyn Walker MacDuffie of Chestnut Hill. After graduating from Beaver Country Day School, where she made many lifelong friends, Kay married and raised her family in Dover and Dedham. Kay was by nature patient, open-minded and curious, and had many diverse interests and talents. She loved knitting and embroidery, and was an expert seamstress. She designed and sold her own line of clothing and worked briefly as a model. She was an accomplished watercolorist and an avid gardener, growing flowers and vegetables from her sunny, hand-turned bed outside the kitchen window. A wonderful cook, and never afraid to experiment in the kitchen, Kay could create gourmet meals from the most modest ingredients, and was equally at ease serving her family or hosting a lavish dinner party. She practiced yoga and tai chi, and used acupuncture before any of these were popular. She was kind, compassionate and generous, and volunteered throughout her life for numerous worthy causes in service to others. Later in life, Kay was introduced to Maine by her beloved husband, the late John R. Whitney, Jr., with whom she spent many idyllic summers boating, picnicking and birdwatching. Most of all, Kay loved being with her family, to whom she was so devoted. Kay is survived by her sisters, Joan Lowell and husband Ralph of Edgartown and Patricia Swan of Francestown, NH; and her brother John W. MacDuffie and wife Karen of Weston; as well as her children, Patricia Mumford and husband Larry of Bakersfield, CA, James M. Martinez, Jr. and wife Kathleen Gurren of Richmond, VA, Peter M. Martinez and wife Lindsey Brace Martinez of Dedham, Hugh W. Martinez and wife Linda Harding of Newburyport, John R. Whitney III and wife Sarah of West Newbury, and Lynn H. Whitney and husband Claude Fixler of Waterville, OH; as well as ten  grandchildren and six great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Dedham Historical Society (dedhamhistorical.org) or the Susan G. Komen organization (komen.org).  Services and interment private.

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