Kathleen P O'Brien

Strafford NH – Kathleen P. O'Brien, 38, of Browns Pasture Road in Strafford died on Sunday October 2, 2022. Katie was born on June 5, 1984, in Stoneham, MA to Edmund Horgan and Linda (Titus) Horgan. Katie graduated from Plymouth South High School in 2002 where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Homecoming Queen, received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Stonehill College in 2006 and then continued to the University of Connecticut earning her Master of Science in Accounting in 2008. She met her husband, Steven W. O'Brien in 2008 and they married in 2013. Prior to making their home in Strafford NH, they lived in Newmarket NH where Steve continues to serve his community as a Police Sergeant with the Newmarket Police Department. While working in an accounting firm in Boston, Katie also joined Newmarket Fire & Rescue. During this time, she became interested in Law Enforcement. She was hired by the North Hampton (NH) Police Department and in 2010, she attended the 154th class of the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Academy in Concord NH. She was the recipient of the Most Improved Recruit Award upon graduation in 2011. During her career, she worked with the Strafford County Sheriff's Office in Dover NH, the Barrington (NH) Police Department, and the Newfields (NH) Police Department. In 2021 she returned to the Strafford County Sheriff's Office as a deputy when she was offered an opportunity that would allow her to work more closely with children and families in crisis. In recent months, she was in-training to be the handler for the SCSO's first comfort dog, Cara (she came from the non-profit organization, Hero Pups, who also train the handler and pup to be partners). Katie was beyond excited to spearhead the county's first police comfort dog program. Her love of animals was undeniable, especially their beloved dogs, Ollie & Izzy. Her life revolved around their well-being and comfort and in return they gave her immense joy and unconditional love. Katie loved to be outside and be active. Along with her husband and friends, she could often be found running various charity road races, hiking in the White Mountains, kayaking at Bow Lake, golfing at Nippo Lake Golf Course, camping with friends and traveling to beautiful destinations. As a young adult, she deeply loved her time in Ireland and in more recent years, Sedona AZ became her "happy place". She was predeceased by her late grandparents; Lloyd and Jeanne Hilton and Edmund and Ruth Horgan. Katie is survived by her husband, Steven W O'Brien of Strafford NH; her parents, Edmund Horgan of Plymouth MA and Linda (Titus) Horgan of Murrells Inlet SC; her brother, Christopher Horgan and his wife Lauren of Plymouth MA; her in-laws, David and Elizabeth O'Brien of Fremont NH; Her aunt and namesake, Patricia Vannoy of Salem, MA and aunt Sharon Hilton of Murrells Inlet, SC; Her uncles, Robert Titus, (wife Pat) of Groveland, MA, David Titus, (wife Laura) of Lynn, MA, Kenneth Horgan, (wife Ginny) of Topsfield, MA and the late James, Richard and William; Besides her dear friend and cousin, Kellie Lawtie of Portgordon, Moray, UK; her beloved pups, Ollie & Izzy; Katie leaves many other cousins; Penny, Michael, Matt, Mike, Joe, Jeffrey, Amy, Jim, Marie, Danny, Ryan, Gregory and Jessica; and many friends who loved her and will miss her immeasurably. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 7th from 4 – 7 p.m. at Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home & Crematory, 77 Exeter Road (Route 108), Newmarket, NH. A law enforcement walk-thru will be held at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 8th at 2 p.m. at St. Mary Church, 182 Main Street, Newmarket. Burial will take place at a later date in Riverside Cemetery, Newmarket. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following: - Hero Pups -- www.heropups.com/donate/ - Mary's Dogs Rescue & Adoption -- Mary's Dogs Rescue and Adoption - How to Help (marysdogs.org) Visit www.kentandpelczarfh.com to sign an online guestbook.