Kathryn Nettie Light
BURNHAM – Kathryn Nettie Light, 82, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021 at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield, surrounded by her family. Kay was born in Chelsea on Nov. 10, 1938, the daughter of Thomas M. Byrne and Doris Cunningham Byrne.
She attended Gardiner Area High School and later earned her GED, eventually working at Augusta Mental Health Institute and Robinson’s Nursing Home for several years. In 1980, Kay and her husband, Carlton W. Light bought Chelsea Market, which they operated for 15+ years before retiring.
Kay believed in hard work and honesty. She was always willing to help family and friends in need. Cooking and feeding her family brought her the most joy, as well as spending time with her family at their camp on Moosehead Lake.
She married Carlton in 1958, and they spent 55 years together before his passing in 2013.
Kay was predeceased by her parents Thomas and Doris Byrne; an infant son, Carlton Kendrick Light; her five brothers, Thomas, John, William, Edward and Paul; and three sisters, Patricia, Elizabeth and Jacqueline.
She is survived by her children, Rhonda Smith and husband Jerald of Burnham, Susan Light and partner Mitch Berube of Augusta, Kevin Light and wife Liza of Arizona; her brother, Stanley Byrne and his wife Joanne of Pittston; her sisters, Shirley Cunningham of Gardiner, Carolyn Perow and husband Chuck of Woolwich; her grandchildren, Jerad Smith and partner Sierra Carey of Unity, Jessica Smith and partner Ethan Collins of Farmingdale, Allizah Mason of Portland; several nieces and nephews; and her two dogs, Angus and Annie.
At Kay’s request, there will be no funeral service.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital for their outstanding care.
Arrangements are by Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick, Ave, Gardiner, where condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website familyfirstfuneralhomes.com
She was a strong advocate for mental health awareness. Donations can be made to NAMI Maine on their website at: http://www.namimaine.org/donate
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Share your condolences, kind words and remembrances below. You must be logged into the website to comment. Subscribers, please login. Not a subscriber? Register to comment for free or subscribe to support our work.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.