Sister Kay was born in St. Louis and baptized Catherine Anne. She attended Christ the King School in University City and Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves, a graduate of the class of 1960. She entered the Sisters of Loretto later that year, was received into the congregation in 1961 and made her first vows in 1963 and final vows in 1968. She earned a bachelor’s degree in math, with a minor in education, in 1965 from Webster College (now University) in Webster Groves and a master’s degree in education in 1973 from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

In the St. Louis Archdiocese, Sister Kay taught at St. Ann School in Normandy from 1967-69. For 10-plus years, she taught in all levels in the Washington County Public Schools system. For the next 30 years she worked at the motherhouse, first as comptroller for 10 years, followed by 20 years as the Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary administrator. In 2005, Sister Kay was recognized by the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities as “Nursing Home Administrator of the Year” for the Central District of Kentucky.

Retiring as administrator in 2007, Sister Kay worked as a pastoral care director, served as a bookkeeper and taught. From 1994 to 2010, she was on the Marion County (Kentucky) Public School Board, including five years as board chairwoman. Sister Kay helped organize funding and donations of water purifying systems for Loretto Pakistani schools in Faisalabad and Lahore.

She founded the Loretto Child Care Center and was a member of the Motherhouse Coordinating Board. She also served as a personal tutor, medical driver, and promoter and planner for countless motherhouse events and activities.

Survivors include a sister, Carol Katzer of Kansas City, Missouri; and three brothers, John Carlew of Belton, Missouri, Robert Carlew of Springfield, Missouri, and Thomas Carlew of Phoenix. Burial was in the Loretto Motherhouse Nature Preserve Cemetery.