Kathleen Lumley

Kathleen Ann Lumley (nee Gatsch ), 80,  passed into eternal life on November 17, 2021, at the home she shared with her husband, Kenneth, in Essex Junction, Vermont.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation for Kathleen at the Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Ave. Union on Saturday December 4 from 8:30 - 9:45 AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Michael's Church in Union at 10:15 AM. Burial will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.

Kathleen was born on December 2, 1940 in Newark, NJ and was predeceased by her parents Edward R. and Marie C. Gatsch.   She was a graduate (1958) of Union (NJ) High School, and shortly after graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Ken.  They were married for 62 years at the time of her passing. Kathleen owned her own cleaning business, retiring from this role in 2005.

She is survived by her brother, Edward W. Gatsch and his wife Sandra of Center Valley, Pa., and was loving Aunt of their children, Kevin Gatsch, and Lisa (Gatsch) Werner.

Kathleen was the loving mother of two daughters, Laurene Roth of Lewes, DE and Barbara Everett of Colchester, VT.  She was also grandmother of four granddaughters- Ashley (Young) Romano, Laura (Young) Dolan, Gillian (Roth) Kriebel, and Olivia Roth.  Over the past several years, she became a great-grandmother to McKenna and Ryan Dolan and Anna Romano.  The role of grandmother and great grandmother brought her much joy and cause for pride when she reminisced over the achievements of her life.

Kathleen enjoyed being with her family, especially at the Jersey Shore where she lived for many years. She was an expert shopper, always landing the best of bargains and making sure you were well informed of her success. There was nothing chocolate that she didn’t like, often tricking you into ordering a chocolate dessert at a restaurant that she would offer to “share” with you.  She was unafraid of expressing her opinion, but could also laugh at herself when the situation called for it.  Kathleen taught her daughters and grand-daughters strength and resiliency, never giving up when life tested her.

Most of all, Kathleen was a devoted wife, unselfishly caring and advocating for her husband in the final years of her life. No task was too difficult or challenging for her, and she loved and cared for him until the end.  Her Catholic faith was of great importance to her, often noting that after a phone call she was “off to do her prayers” before going to bed.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to: Mercy House, Archdiocese of Newark, 620 Clinton Ave. Newark, NJ 07108.