Kathleen “Kathy” Sparda

Saco – Kathleen Marie Sparda passed away on December 1, 2025 in Biddeford. She was born on June 11, 1947 in Quincy, MA. She was the daughter of Richard and Kathleen McDonough of Weymouth, MA.

She grew up in Weymouth, MA graduating from Weymouth High School. She received a full academic scholarship to Boston University attending in Boston, MA. She went on to commit herself to her family, community outreach, and a career in religious education for the Roman Catholic Church. She and her husband Robert of 58 years raised five children living on the South Shore of Massachusetts, Northern New Hampshire, and coming back south while still in New England to Scarborough, Maine in 1984. Robert will miss her love and companionship as they were together for 60 years.

A charismatic leader with a clear empathy and passion for the betterment of her community resulted in her leading many values-based projects. She was instrumental in launching the first kindergarten school in Gorham, New Hampshire. She also received the following awards: Boy Scout Leader of the Year, Cub Scout Leader of the Year, and 4H Leader of the year. Kathy would often reminisce of the “New England Village” that Gorham, New Hampshire is as she enjoyed the aesthetic beauty and close-knit community.

After relocating to Scarborough, Maine she served as a founding member of Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish in response to the fact that there was no existing Catholic Church in the town of Scarborough. After briefly attending St. John’s in South Portland, Kathy and Robert focused their efforts on leading a financial and community campaign to establish the parish that is now affectionately known as “St. Max.” Kathy led several ecumenical initiatives that showed St. Max to not only be a beautiful building but a place for all communities to come together, share, and unify, not just Catholics. A humanitarian at heart she took great pride in bringing together people from all walks of life. She was involved in many valuable outreach / volunteering organizations such as Habitat for Humanity including The Good Friday Walk hosted at St. Max, Coats for Kids, The Preble Street Resource Center, The Friendship House, The Maine Irish Children’s Program, and many more.

An avid reader who also held a great affinity for cooking, baking, crossword puzzles, the beach, Martha’s Vineyard, Peak’s Island, and hosting all holidays. Kathy’s culinary talent was always on full display over the holidays hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter where she made most things from scratch.

She loved her family, later in life she especially loved discussing the achievements of family members, family friends, and of course seeing her grandchildren. Kathy represented love and life, which showed in all that she accomplished.

Kathy leaves her husband, Robert of Saco; son, Andrew, wife Jennifer and their children Andrew, Jr. and Lauren of Readfield; daughter, Katy Sparda Cloutier of Charleston, SC and husband Chad, and children Brandt and Ella of Charleston, SC; son, Michael of Walnut Creek, CA and children Dalton and Sloane also of Walnut Creek, CA; daughter, Merilyn Dalton and her boyfriend Millard Nadeau of Windham, and her children Meg and Andrew, of Windham; son, Robert Jr., and wife Carla of Wells, and his children Trevor of Boston, MA , Samantha Sparda Pereira, and her husband Evan, of Gorham and Sidney of Portland; sister, Karen and husband David Lindholm of Scarborough; sister, Patricia and husband Edward of Weymouth, MA; brother, Richard of South Portland, ME, his son Michael, predeceased her brother Michael and wife Rena of Greenfield, MA, and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 4pm – 6pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of South Portland, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at St. Maximilian Kolbe, 150 Black Point Rd, Scarborough.