Catherine M. (Kay) Swift died Sept. 15, 2015 at the age of 91 with her son Alaric by her side. She was 91.

Kay moved from Millis to the Island in 1952 after marrying her love, Dean R. Swift. She started her business career on the Vineyard at Martha’s Vineyard Bank in Vineyard Haven, starting as a teller and working her way up the administrative assistant to the president of the bank. Her next business endeavor was managing the office of Dean’s land surveying business until they sold the business and retired in 1991.

Her other job was very important: she ran the Swift household. The house was always clean and there were always homemade cakes, cookies, snacks and food to be had, not to forget fresh bluefish from Dean’s boat or vegetables from his garden.

Another aspect of Kay’s life was community involvement, including, first and foremost, the Roman Catholic Church. Whenever the church beckoned, she answered the call. At any given moment she could be serving on and acting as the secretary of the parish council, serving on the financial council, scheduling the lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, and acting herself as a Eucharistic Minister. Her hard work earned her the Marian Medal. Kay’s work with the Church did not end there, for up until a few months before her death, she was in charge of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, which was a job she thoroughly enjoyed.

There was a civic end to Kay’s life, too. For over a decade, she was a member of and then head of the Tisbury Conservation Commission. This was another surprise in her life, as she knew nothing of the task she was about to undertake. She was a fast learner, and with the help of a few friends and the ability to apply her knowledge of Dean’s surveying business she was able to undertake this new endeavor and succeed. She was a truly remarkable woman.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dean, her daughter in law Nancy G. Smith-Swift, her brother in law Paul Swift, her brothers John, James, and Thomas Moran, and her nephew Paul Swift. She is survived by her son Alaric Swift and his fiancée Lisa Crabtree of Vineyard Haven, her sister Anne Swift of North Attleboro, and her sister Ellen Delaney of Walpole. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.

There will be a graveside service on June 23 at 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. Per Kay’s request, there will not be a reception and in lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice.