BRUNSWICK — Katherine “Kay” Connor Thompson Morais, 98, of Brunswick, died peacefully April 17 with her family by her side.

She was born in Greenville on March 31, 1917, the second child of Henry David Joseph and Katherine (Cyr) Connor.

Her early childhood was spent in central Maine, but she soon moved with her family to Portland. There, she attended St. Joseph’s School, Thomas B. Reed School, Lincoln Junior High School and Deering High School.

Morais worked at Benoit’s department store while attending Deering, and learned tailoring through the federal Works Progress Administration. In 1939, she married Robert Thompson, and was divorced in 1943.

From 1943 to 1945, she proudly helped the war effort by working to construct Liberty Ships as a tacker at Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corp. in South Portland. She also met Joseph Gerard Morais, and the couple were married in 1947.

After moving to Brunswick, Katherine was employed at Varney Mill as a stripper, cutting small bits of thread off bobbins. She later worked for Emile the Tailor and then at Health-Tex for many years until her retirement.

A talented seamstress, Morais made her daughters’ clothes, and also knit sweaters, hats and mittens. Eventually she branched out to sew wedding gowns, prom dresses and everyday clothing for friends and relatives. She also sewed for many prominent Brunswick residents, and even made costumes for what is now the Maine State Music Theatre.

Morais was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, and of the Daughters of Isabella, in which she celebrated 45 years of membership in 2014. At age 90, she continued to bowl with the group, and greatly enjoyed participating in their “mystery trips.”

She loved to travel and one of her favorite weekend trips was to New Hampshire’s White Mountains. She also enjoyed trips to Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Utah, Canada and Switzerland.

Morais was predeceased by her parents, her two husbands and her five siblings.

She is survived by four children and their spouses: Ronald and Carole Thompson, Phyllis and Rickey Walker, Ruth and Robert Caouette, and Sharon Wolf. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Dawn Thompson Forest, Carolyn Slayton, Jeffrey Doyon, Michael Doyon, April-Lyn Caouette, Andrew Caouette, Tammy Newton, Madelyn Keene and Katherine Keene; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law Chanel “Whitey” Morais, of California, and Samuel Snyder, of Delaware; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Morais’ family wishes to thank the staff of Dionne Commons for the five years of care they provided to her, and also thanks the staff at Freeport Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for their care during her final months.

A memorial Mass is planned for July, at a date and time to be determined.

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