Caitlyn R. O'Shaughnessy

Caitlyn Renee O’Shaughnessy, 33 years old residing in Bedford MA, passed away from complications due to Type 1 diabetes on July 31st 2026. Caitlyn joined her parents Tom and Cyndi O’Shaughnessy and her older sister Colleen Blake (O’Shaughnessy) in Scottsdale Arizona on February 12th 1993. The family moved around and settled in Haverhill where Caitlyn went to school and graduated from Whittier Technical High School in 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from UMass Dartmouth in 2015. Upon graduation she worked for the Department of the Navy in RI and received her Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate College. She transferred to the Department of the Air Force at Hanscom Air Force Base in 2024.

Caitlyn enjoyed Pure Barre, yoga, hiking and finding new trails to walk with friends. She could often be found in her mom’s kitchen trying or creating new cookie recipes or some sourdough creation. Her favorite thing to do was spend time with her family. She had a way of finding new things to try, from various cooking classes to bungee workouts to a petting zoo with kangaroos. She loved starting new traditions and ensuring her favorite traditions remain unchanged. Caitlyn loved to travel and got to go many places. Every time she went somewhere new, she always found a cat shelter or sanctuary to visit and spend time with the cats and kittens.

Caitlyn is survived by her beloved cats Buster Bluth and Phoebe Buffay O’Shaughnessy, her parents Tom and Cyndi, sister Colleen, brother-in-law Nate, nephew Walker, niece Addison, and grandparents RC and Mary Walker. In addition, she leaves a large number of extended and chosen family.

There will be calling hours from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, August 14th at Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport, MA. Additional calling hours will be on Saturday, August 15th, from 9-11a.m. A Celebration of Life will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Newburyport Masonic Building next door at 31 Green St.

In celebration of Caitlyn’s overwhelming love of cats, in lieu of flowers we request donations be made to The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, 63 Elm St, Salisbury, MA 01952.