Cavanaugh matriarch dies at 90

Kathleen Munnelly Cavanaugh, matriarch of a widely known Omaha political family, died early this morning at age 90.

“The number of people she touched and was connected to is just incredible,” said son John Cavanaugh. “She had a masterful recall, not just of names but of history. She was an encyclopedia of people.”

Between 1956 and 2004, her family said, she helped her husband, brothers and sons win 22 general elections for local, state and federal offices. They included Douglas County commissioner, county clerk, state senator, public service commissioner and congressman.

Cavanaugh grew up in a two-story south Omaha frame home at 3902 R St. and raised her family there. At 86, she finally left and moved in with daughter Cathy Amdor.

Kathleen's late husband, Jack Cavanaugh, was a consistent top vote-getter for the Douglas County Board when candidates ran countywide rather than by district, as they do today. He died in 1977.

Their son John was elected to Congress in 1976 and served two terms. Another son, Tom Cavanaugh, is the current Douglas County clerk.

Kathleen Munnelly was born in Omaha in 1919 to recent Irish immigrants. Her father, a packinghouse labor organizer, died when she was a girl, and her mother worked for a meatpacker during the Great Depression.

In later years, Kathleen Cavanaugh served as an advocate for the elderly with the Omaha Housing Authority and volunteered to help care for Alzheimer's patients at the Douglas County Hospital's Cavanaugh Care Center, named for her husband.

Other survivors include her other children, James Cavanaugh of Omaha, Mary Anne Lucas of Omaha and Dr. Margaret Mary Cavanaugh-Boyer of Mullen, Neb.; and 23 grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at West Center Chapel, with a wake service at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church.

Contact the writer:

444-1132, michael.kelly@owh.com

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