NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  Kathleen Marie (Pires) Wheeler of North Adams passed away unexpectedly on October 2, 2026. She was surrounded by her family, of which she was the anchor.

Kathi was born on August 2,1954 in Pittsfield, MA. She was the devoted daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Killackey) Pires of Pittsfield. She was raised in Pittsfield and graduated from Taconic High School in 1972. She went on to earn her degree in Nursing from Berkshire Community College and began a long and meaningful career as a Registered Nurse. During her career she provided care to many patients at Berkshire Medical Center, Nassif’s Pharmacy, and the Cataract and Laser Center. Her compassion, dedication, and instinct for caring for others was evident in everything she did.

Kathi was the most wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her greatest gift was caring for everyone around her. She had a remarkable way of making others feel cared for, welcomed, seen, and never alone. Her beauty, both inside and out, was apparent to everyone she encountered. Nursing was more than a career to her. Caregiving was deeply rooted in who she was. She was everyone’s biggest advocate and supporter.

She leaves behind her husband of 50 years, W. Mark Wheeler, and her four children - Christie and her husband, Pat Ingoldsby, Marissa and her husband, Greg Colcord, Kelly Wheeler, and Bobby Wheeler. She was a loving “Amma” to her four grandchildren, Braden and Ashlyn Ingoldsby, and Lane and Annie Colcord. She also leaves her sisters, Maureen Iafeliece and Bonnie Sinopoli, and brothers Alex Pires and Joey Pires, along with many nieces and nephews.

Some of her most special days were spent enjoying weekends away with Mark in Saratoga Springs, NY. They shared a love of horse racing, and those trips became something they looked forward to together, filled with good times, laughter, and the simple joy of being together with friends and family.

Kathi loved serving patients alongside her many amazing colleagues, sharing meals and moments with her beautiful friends, and most importantly, any opportunity she had to spend with her family at their home. They had many afternoons and evenings spent around the kitchen counter, filled with laughter and love. There was nothing she loved more than having her entire family close. She created a home where everyone was always welcomed and cared for.

NOTICE: Visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 9th from 11:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. on Friday at Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home at 521 West Main St. in North Adams, MA, with a short service following at 2:00 pm at the same location. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berkshire Visiting Nurses Association (BVNA) Client Needs Fund. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com