Obituary of Catherine A. Leary

Catherine "Kay" Stanton Leary passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 21, 2018. She was 95.

A 1940 graduate of The Academy of St. Elizabeth’s in Convent Station, NJ, she worked as a bookkeeper at Bayley Ellard High School until she retired in 1987.

A lifelong Madison resident and a Madison Historian, her contributions to the town were many. She was a member of the Volunteer Ambulance Squad, AARP Volunteer Tax Preparation, The Friends of the Library, and The Thursday Morning Club, to name just a few. She taught knitting at the Community Center and could often be found at her sanctuary, St. Vincent Martyr Church, where she volunteered at the Rectory and was a member of the Rosary Society.

She is predeceased by her husband, Frank A. Leary in 1994, son-in-law, Charles DeRoxtro in 1992 and grandson, Brendan DeRoxtro in 1996, as well as her eldest son, Dennis, who passed in 2017. She leaves behind a sister-in-law, Eleanor Loffedo; four children, Catherine DeRoxtro, James B. Leary and his wife, Jill, John E. Leary and his wife Teresa, Kevin Leary and his wife, Theresa, along with Dennis’ widow Maryanne, her 16 grandchildren: Raymond, William, Deena, Steven, Jessica, Brian, Meghan, Patrick, Kealan, Timothy, Jane, Alysa, Jack, Sean, Brianna and Molly, as well as 10 great grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and eight nieces and nephews.

Kay Leary was the epitome of elegance and grace, strength and dignity. Her faith and generosity of spirit brought her comfort throughout her life. Her family find peace in the knowledge that she was surrounded by her friends and loved ones when she passed, supported by the happy memories of a life well-lived and filled with laughter, hard work and an exacting standard of spirit that we should all have been lucky and honored to have lived up to. Her loss is irreplaceable to any who knew her and she will remain, always, an example on how to truly live.

Family and friends are welcome to gather on Monday, April 23rd from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main Street, Madison. A Mass in celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, April 24th at 10:00am at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. Interment will follow at St. Vincent's Cemetery, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to The Thursday Morning Club, or St. Vincent Martyr Church.