Hibernians’ annual luncheon will honor Irish Man and Irish Woman of the Year

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Butler

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Snow

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Ancient Order of Hibernians, Joseph T. Nalley Division 6, has scheduled a St. Patrick’s Day Mass and luncheon on March 17 to honor the 2015 AOH Irish Man of the Year, Thomas K. Butler, and Irish Woman of the Year, Kathleen Porter Snow.

The event will begin with 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., and the luncheon will follow in the church hall. The meal consists of traditional corned beef and cabbage prepared by Chef Jeffrey Chrystal.

The Mass will be open to the public, but tickets are required for the luncheon at $20 each. Tickets are available in advance; call Mark Klacik, president of AOH Division 6, at 330-550-4469. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.

The AOH is the oldest Irish Catholic fraternal organization that promotes and preserves Irish heritage and culture through the principles of its motto, “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity.”

THOMAS Kevin BUTLER

Born Feb. 24, 1954, Butler is the sixth of the nine children of Charles and Dorothy Butler. He is second-generation Irish American on his father’s side, and his great-grandfather and grandmother immigrated to the United States from County Cork, Ireland.

Butler was educated at St. Edward School and Ursuline High School. He attended Kent and Youngstown state universities, majoring in education.

As a member of Kiwanis Club of Youngstown, Butler was elected to various officer positions and eventually became president. He also was a member and president of LeTip International, a professional business organization.

In 1998, Butler joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians. An active member, he served in various elected positions including president from 2005 to 2008. He became a staunch supporter of the Gathering of the Clans and Youngstown St. Patrick’s Day Parade planning committee, and served as an officer for both.

Proud of his Irish heritage and Catholic faith, Butler considers it an honor and privilege to be selected by his peers as 2015 Irishman of the Year.

He and his wife, the former Marilynn Fair, reside in Canfield. He is the proprietor of Burkland Flowers on Market St., Boardman.

KATHLEEN PORTER SNOW

Born and raised in Youngstown, Snow is the daughter of David Porter and Eileen Coustillac Porter. She has three siblings.

She was a student at St. Christine Elementary School and graduated from Canfield High School. She later earned an associate degree in applied science from Youngstown State University.

In 1988, she and Kelly Snow of Lithonia, Ga., were married at St. Christine Church. They have two children. Halley, their daughter, recently graduated from YSU and is employed, and Alex, their son, is pursuing a nursing degree at YSU.

Snow works for the Hope Center for Cancer Care. She loves traveling with her family, crocheting hats for cancer patients and helping with fundraisers. The family home is in Canfield, and she teaches Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, known as CCD, at her church, St. Christine’s.

She joined the LAOH Division 6 in 1997, serves as mistress of arms and has received her three degrees. Snow is proud of her heritage and faith and feels honored to follow both her grandmother, the late Helen Halley Coustillac, 1995 LAOH Irish Woman of the Year; and her mother, Eileen Porter Coustillac, 2001 LAOH Irish Woman of the Year.