Kathleen (Madsen) Polanski

NORTH CANAAN — Kathleen (Madsen) Polanski, 44,  died suddenly Sunday morning, Feb. 7, 2010, at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. She was the wife of Gregory A. Polanski.Kathleen was born Sept. 30, 1965, in Great Barrington, daughter of Cathern (Talerico) and Ivor Madsen of North Canaan.

Kathleen was a mason and worked as a bartender throughout the Northwest Corner.  She was a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School.  Kathleen held a third degree black belt in karate.  She studied at the Hamzy School of Self Defense in Torrington, and loved to share her expertise and knowledge with the younger students at the school. Kathleen also loved animals and all manner of critters.  

In addition to her husband and parents, Kathleen is survived by her three brothers, Staff Sergeant  Lawrence Madsen, on duty with the U.S Army in Iraq, and James and Dale, both of North Canaan; her sister, Cheryl of North Canaan; her mother- and father-in-law, Mary (Smith) and Louis Polanski of Nazareth, Pa.; as well as many nieces and nephews. Kathleen was predeceased by her brother, Robert, and her loyal and faithful dog, Damien.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in North Canaan.  Memorial donations may be sent to the North Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, PO Box 178, North Canaan, CT 06018 or to the Little Guild of St. Francis, 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT 06796-1506.

Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan has charge of the arrangements.

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