Obituary of Kathleen (Tripp) Welch

Kathleen (Kathy) Tripp Welch, 74, passed away July 16, 2023, after a brave 2-year battle with primary peritoneal cancer. Kathy passed away at home in California surrounded by her family.

Kathy grew up in Middleboro, Massachusetts with her twin brother Michael Tripp. In Middleboro she made many cherished friends and memories. These included Kathy’s time in Girl Scouts, Rainbow Girls, and the Middleboro High School’s marching band, as a majorette. She also had fond memories of ice skating in the winter and riding her bike to the pool or beach in the summer.

After high school, she attended St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing school in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She then began her career as a labor and delivery nurse. She moved to Sacramento, California in 1976 and worked at Sutter Memorial Hospital for 35 years. There Kathy made an impression through forming lifelong friendships and caring for moms to be.

When she wasn’t taking care of new moms, Kathy loved reading and traveling. Whether she was being transported by words or planes, she often enjoyed finding new adventures and sharing them with friends. Many may have received a book passed along by Kathy or a postcard from along the way.

Beloved by all who knew her, Kathy was always willing to help her family and friends, and continued helping until the very end. Family and friends describe her as warm, loving, kind, strong, generous, and thoughtful. Kathy will be deeply missed by her loving family and countless friends, coast to coast, whose lives she touched. Her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her.

She is survived by her brother Michael Tripp of Middleboro, MA; daughter and Son-in-law, Amy and Michael Gandy of Elk Grove, CA; cherished granddaughters: Simone and Mia; good friend Rod Welch, as well as beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

There are no services at this time.

If so inclined, the family respectfully requests contributions in Kathy’s memory be made to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer. For more information please go to the foundation’s website at https://foundationforwomenscancer.org/support-us/donate/. For online condolences please visit: Shepherdfuneralhome.com