Bridget Cecilia Kilmartin (née Melville) passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 97.

She was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 58 years, Paul Kilmartin. Also her loving parents, Kate and John Melville, her brothers Malachy and Michael Melville and sister Mary Walsh. Bridget is survived by her devoted daughters Marie (Gary) Schmitt and Sharon (Marcel) van Rooijen. She was the cherished Grandma to Sarah (Phillip), Ben and Emily Schmitt and Paul and Will van Rooijen. She was the much adored sister in law to Mary Melville, and loving nieces and nephews John Melville, Marie Keating, Tom Melville, Peter Melville (dec.), Brian Melville (dec.), Catriona Montgomery, Majella Piggott, Claire Bennett and Sean Walsh. She was also the much loved aunt of Linda Shah, Frank Kilmartin (dec.), Margie Spano, Michael Kilmartin, Mia Smitt, Pam Kammerer, Dick Kilmartin, Jack Kilmartin and Jill Waldschmidt and her fellow Ben Lomond resident Mike Spano. Breda’s compassionate and devoted caregivers of six years Sarah Burbano and Raquel Ridoloso will dearly miss her.

Bridget was born in Gort, Co Galway in Ireland, and studied at Kiltartin Primary School, Sisters of Mercy’s Semount College in Kinvara, and London School of Nursing. She returned to Ireland to work as a nurse in County Galway and served as a midwife to patients on the Aran Islands. At the age of 30 she bravely immigrated on her own to Canada before settling in San Francisco. That’s where she met her “precious darling” and married Paul Kilmartin in 1965. They moved to Ben Lomond to raise their two daughters. Her servant’s heart was always evident by her tireless work at Dominican Hospital as a Charge Nurse and making weekly meals for many local elderly neighbors. She volunteered at Valley Churches and was the proud organizer of the annual St Michael’s St Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance for many years.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 10th at 10am at St Michael's Catholic Church in Boulder Creek. Private family burial to follow on Saturday, April 11th at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Valley Churches United, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond, California 95005 or vcum.org. or to the Ben Lomond Fire Protection District, 9430 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, California 95005 or Department Auxiliary, benlomondfd.com.