Kathryn Marciano

Kathryn Marciano

(February 7, 1940 – December 18, 2017)

Kathryn Marciano of Union, NJ passed away unexpectedly on December 18 th , 2017. She was born on February 7, 1940, daughter of Arthur and Rose Marie Green, and sister of Rose Marie “Bunny” Turley (née Green). She grew up in Richmond Hill , Queens, her father was a NYPD patrolman and a tool-and-dye maker, and her mother was a successful amateur gymnast. She spent a lot of her early years with her maternal grandparents, immigrants from Czechoslovakia.  She attended St. Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, NY, earned her Bachelor degree from Hunter College, and earned her Masters Degree from St. John’s University in Queens.

She taught NYC public schools for 18 years. During a time of limited opportunities for women, she also worked abroad for several years teaching the children of military personnel in Germany, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines in the 60s and early 70s. During breaks, she would travel to many other countries across Africa, Europe and Asia. Growing up, she regaled her children with many adventurous stories which fostered their own wanderlust. Among other stories, she saw headhunters in the Philippines, appeared regularly on a TV show in Puerto Rico, told the Soviets she was a daughter of a Senator so she could get into the Moscow Ballet, and avoided some ne'er-do-wells in Ethiopia by pretending she was Russian as she could speak Czech (As she put it, they were scared of any reprisals from the KGB). As kids, we'd travel almost every year through the country taking great trips to many national parks. She visited her son, Chris when he was in Scotland and was quite chuffed to see the Queen at Balmoral.

She married Dominick Marciano of Brooklyn, NY in 1974. Her sons John and Christopher were born in 1976 and 1978, respectively, and raised with a firm, but loving hand. She was rarely sick growing up and would never admit it if she was. She was the strong silent type, and passed on her stubbornness to both of her children. She selflessly cared for Dominick through his illnesses in the last years of his life. Most of all, she adored being a Grandma to Katie and James, and would love to hear the crazy things that they said and did.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, grandparents, and sister. She is survived by her children, John and his wife Jennifer of Stamford, CT, Christopher and his wife Caroline, and grandchildren, Kathryn, 7, and James, 6, of Houston, and her nieces Cindy Sanford, Cathy Grammer, Rose Marie “Bunny” Turley, and nephew, Joseph Turley and their families. We pray she's having a joyous reunion in heaven with our dad, her parents and grandparents, and her sister. She lost her Mom unexpectedly as well, 35 years ago, and we know she has sorely missed her. The visitation will be held from 2-6pm on Thursday, Dec, 21 at the Galante Funeral Home 2800 Morris Ave. in Union NJ. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, Dec. 22 at 10 am at St. James Church in Springfield, NJ. Followed by the interment at Forest Green Park Cemetery in Morganville, NJ.