Karyn Sue Hay

Born on May 15, 1957, in New Brunswick, NJ, to Charles and Wanda Mannino, she was raised in South River, NJ, along with her four sisters and brother. That’s where she met the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Steven. They created a loving home in Howell, NJ, for 31 years where they raised four children: Keith, Kelly, Kaitlyn, and Stephanie.

To know her was to love her. To be around her was to feel warmth and at home. Karyn was selfless, loving, compassionate, and a faithful servant to the Lord. She devoted her life to her husband, children, and grandchildren whom she loved with every ounce of her being.

Together for 51 years, Karyn and Steven were soulmates who still loved each other like teenagers holding hands and sharing kisses by the kitchen sink. Her children were her world, and she would drop everything to help them. Karyn was the best Mimi, not only to her eight grandchildren and ninth due in March, but to all kids whom she encountered. She loved getting in “trouble” with her grandbabies sneaking them chocolate and cookies. Karyn was adored not only by her husband, children, and grandchildren, but also her siblings, nieces/nephews, and friends.

She was a devoted member of the Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and head of the environmental committee. She would tell you her faith is what got her through each day.

You could always catch Karyn in her stretchy pants running errands around town, mostly to care for her family, with a cup of coffee or tea in her hand, and snacks packed on the front seat of the car next to her. She began every morning with prayer, followed by several phone calls from her daughters and sisters. Karyn’s wisdom, gentleness, and tender nature is what drew so many of her family and friends to her for guidance and support. She loved pink, flamingos, the beach, bubble baths, scratch-offs, and catching up at night with her TV friends from Criminal Minds and Chicago P.D.

Karyn lived each day ready to serve with a full heart and poise that could comfort anyone she encountered.

Karyn is survived by her beloved husband of 46 years, Steven Hay; Her son Keith Hay and his wife Amanda; her daughters Kelly Delaney and her husband Dan, Kaitlyn Kosko and her husband Dan, and Stephanie McHugh and her husband James; and her grandchildren: Kiley, Aidan, and Mackenzie (Delaney); Gianna and Justin (Hay); Cole and Kyle (Kosko); and Clare (McHugh). Karyn also leaves behind her sisters Carol Chodzko, Patricia Moree, Janice Mannino, and Michelle Hatala (Brian) and her brother Charles Mannino (Janice); and brother-in-law Bruce Hay (Pat) and Ellen Molina (Natch).

She is predeceased by her loving parents, Charles and Frances “Wanda” Mannino; parent in-laws, John and Elizabeth Hay; and brother in-laws, Steven Moree and John Chodzko.

We will celebrate her life on Sunday, September 15, 2024, from 3-6 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home located at 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 11757 Old St. Augustine Road in Jacksonville, FL.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate in Karyn’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As Karyn would tell us all, from the words of St. Padre Pio, “Pray. Hope. And Don’t Worry.”