Kathleen Mary Moro

Strong-willed to the end, she succumbed to complications of stroke following a courageous and difficult struggle. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Rick, her children, Jim, Karen, Brian and Stephen, six loving grandchildren, James, Justin, Julia, Gavin, Jackson, and Nicholas, and siblings Patricia, Patrick, and Mary Kitson, ten nieces and nephews and many cousins from both her maternal and paternal families.

Lovingly known as Kathy to family and friends, and most cherished as “Nana” to her grandchildren, she was born Kathleen Kitson in NYC on July 24, 1955 to the late James P. “Big Jim” and Katherine “Chickie” Kitson. She married her high school sweetheart Rick in 1972 and raised her children, first in Jackson Heights, NY until moving into the family home in Union in 1986. She exemplified the principles of hard work, humility, and service to the community and instilled those values in her children, and two chose careers in public service in Union, Karen as an officer in the Union Police Department and Stephen as a firefighter with the Union Fire Department.

Kathy balanced her role as mother with various part-time positions before embarking on her 20 year career as Office Manager for private practice physicians, a role that allowed her to utilize her keen business sense and knack for numbers while also increasing her knowledge of medicine and medical techniques. After retiring, she doted on her grandchildren and tended to her beautiful garden, putting her green thumb on display for all who visited the home, which was always open to family and friends.

Proud of her Irish heritage, Kathy always looked forward to March 17, and visited Ireland in 2012 with her sister Patricia, fulfilling a lifelong wish to visit the land from which her grandparents emigrated. Vibrant and social, Kathy enjoyed cruises through the Caribbean with Rick and spent her summer weekends at the Union Elks, where she was one of the first female members.

While she’ll be sorely missed, her spirit will live on through the many lives she touched and the many wonderful memories she created for family and friends, as she was always thrilled to celebrate any occasion to bring her loved ones together.

Visitation will take place at McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083 NJ on Sunday, December 6th 2 pm - 6 pm and a Funeral Mass at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church will take place on Monday, December 7th at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.