Catharine Vondrak Obituary

Catharine "Kitty" Vondrak

December 14, 1940 - May 8, 2025

SCHROON LAKE, NY - Catharine "Kitty" Vondrak, 84, died peacefully on May 8, 2025. Born Catharine Louise Halloran on December 14, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY to Alice Gonnoud Halloran and Donald Halloran, Kitty and her two brothers were raised by their mother. She had fond memories of her childhood in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Her mother, Alice, enrolled in a NY State Teacher Certification program, during which the family spent summers at the Shevlin farm in Irishtown, NY. The family moved to Cape Vincent in 1951, to Star Lake in 1956, and a year later to Lockport, where Kitty graduated from high school in 1958.

Kitty attended D'Youville College in Buffalo, receiving a degree in English in 1962, after which she moved to Germany to teach. There she met the love of her life, an American soldier, Paul Vondrak, of Chicago, IL. They soon married, and upon completion of Paul's service, returned to the U.S. They spent time in Illinois while Paul went to college, then moved to Albany, NY, and eventually settled with their two children in Greenfield Center, NY. In 1969, Kitty nearly died in a tragic automobile accident that took the lives of her husband, children, and mother.

Later, Kitty settled in Schroon Lake where she and a companion built her beloved home in the woods. She had a small farm with goats, pigs, and chickens. At age 37 she decided to become an attorney, graduating from Franklin Pierce Law School in Concord, New Hampshire in 1981. Kitty then returned to Schroon Lake and worked for a law firm before she started her private law practice. She was a dedicated attorney and fiercely represented her clients in local and county courts.

Kitty lived an adventurous life which included sailing trips, a shipwreck on a deserted island, climbing the 46 High Peaks, and traveling. A cat person, she cherished the many years she had with her favorite feline, Kochka. She was also stubborn as hell, and refused to look at screens for decades until the 2024 presidential debate.

She enjoyed organic gardening, political activism, the arts, spending time with family and friends, conversations with strangers, and dining at her favorite restaurants, especially Sticks and Stones.

Kitty loved music and was an accomplished pianist. Anywhere she went, if there was a piano there, you'd find her in front of it. She also taught herself to play her mother's viola and played in local orchestras and small groups for many years. She spent her last years working on a book about her mother's and her own life stories.

In recent years, Kitty was delighted to meet and get to know her late husband Paul's niece, Ann Vondrak, who moved to the area and helped Kitty reconnect with the Vondrak family.

Kitty is predeceased by her husband, Paul Vondrak; her children, Andrew and Kristin; her parents, and her half-brothers, Ronald (Chris) Halloran and Michael Halloran.

She is survived by her two brothers and their spouses: Andrew and Katherine Halloran of Olmstedville, NY and George and Marcia Halloran of Key West, Florida. Kitty also leaves behind nieces: Mary (Steve) Halloran, Alice Halloran, Nellie (Joseph) Halloran, Lisa Halloran, and Katie Pearl (Ricky) Halloran, and nephews Andrew (Megan) Halloran, Charles Halloran, James (Danielle) Halloran, Edwin Halloran, Christopher Halloran, and Shane Halloran; along with four grandnieces, eight grandnephews, and other extended family. She is also remembered by many dear friends, including Kylen Kline-Tromblee.

The family would like to thank the Elizabethtown Community Hospital for their exceptional care during Kitty's several stays there.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at St. Mary's Cemetery in Irishtown, NY, followed by a celebration of life from 11:00 a.m., to 2:00 p.m., at Sticks and Stones in Schroon Lake. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Schroon Lake EMS or WAMC radio.

To offer online condolences, please visit www.wilcoxandreganfuneralhome.com.