Kathleen M. Darbe 75 of North Reading passed away July 25th after a short illness. Born in Malden on April 13, 1950 to the late Henry J. Martin and Anne R. Martin.  She was the devoted wife of Leslie C. Darbe of 38 years. Mother of Colleen Crist Campbell of Derry NH and Son Brian C. Darbe of North Reading. Grandmother of Joey and Kevin Campbell of Derry NH. She went to school at Nazareth Academy in Wakefield. Growing up in Malden she helped at the Martin family Greenhouses.  She was the best flower picker of Sweet Pea's at the Martin Greenhouses.

Kathleen worked at Digital Equipment Corp. and then USPS in Andover where she retired. She loved having gatherings at her home for any family occasion which could be between 25 and 30 family and friends.  Christmas was her favorite holiday as the house was decorated top to bottom. Her favorite places for vacationing were Walt Disney World and Aruba. She was always planning the next trip with her husband for their daughter, Son and grandsons to Disney.  She and her husband traveled to Aruba for over 40 years, staying right on the beach.  When not vacationing, she enjoyed relaxing in the backyard reading her favorite book.

Whenever you saw Kathleen, she had a crossword book in hand or may have picked up a couple scratch tickets to test her luck.  She was an avid collector of Snoopy/Charlie Brown items.  She had her soap opera that she watched daily along with the classic programs of the 70's and 80's.  Her new favorite show was Ghosts.

Kathleen was one of seven siblings.  She is survived by her sisters, Maureen A. Furilla and husband Ed of Plymouth, Eileen M. Uberti and husband Jim of Litchfield, NH, her brothers, Henry E. Martin of Malden, Daniel J. Martin and wife Nancy of Malden, and Frederick J. Martin and wife Debbie of Stoneham, her nieces and nephews, Kevin, Kerry, Keith, Melinda, Daniel, Megan, Matthew, and Timothy, as well as several great nieces and great nephews, brother in law and wife Norm and Toni Darbe, their son Eric, wife Alexa and their children Christopher and Alex. In addition to her parents, Kathleen was preceded in death by her sister Colleen and nephews, John, and Ryan.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation in the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St, (corner of Park St. and Rte.28) North Reading at Reading line on Friday Aug.1 st from 9am-1030am. A funeral mass will follow visitation in St. Theresa's Church, 63 Winter St., (Rte.62), North Reading at 11am. Interment to follow in Locust Grove Cemetery, Merrimac, MA. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Kathleen's name to Friends of Flint Memorial Library, P.O. Box 576 North Reading, Ma. 01864. www.cotafuneral.com