Kathleen D Albano

Katie was born on February 2, 1934, at St Mary’s Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, to Joseph and Margaret (Kealy) Duggan. Her Irish-Catholic family included two older sisters, Margaret and Mary, and her younger brother, Joseph.

With her father dying when she was just 5, Katie saw her mother work tirelessly, most times at two jobs simultaneously, to provide for her children during difficult times including through the Great Depression and World War II. These efforts and the determination of her mother to keep her children together and thriving was forever impressed in Katie’s psyche as the epitome of love and devotion to family, and something that she not only took to heart but lived each day in her actions. As a young girl, Katie’s own budding personality, infused with a strong sense of responsibility, independence, and determination, was characterized by her working side by side with her siblings to keep their mother’s household running spotlessly and smoothly while she worked, but also displayed in her swimming on a dare, alone, across Lake Hopatcong, much to the dismay of her Uncle Jack! Later, Katie left high school and earned a specialty certificate at secretarial school, to contribute to the household finances. Katie first worked at Bell Telephone thanks to getting a lead from her beloved “Little Aunt Mary Ronca” and later as an executive secretary on Wall Street at Dominick & Dominick. It was around this time in the mid 1950s that she was introduced to the love of her life, Joseph Albano, by their best friends, and their love story began. They married in 1957 with her beloved nephew Tommy as ring bearer, settled in Staten Island and became parents to Anne Marie, Joanne, and Joseph. These early years were filled with building lifelong friendships with her neighbors on Chesterton and Fairbanks Avenue, and through her position as Executive Secretary at Community National Bank. Frequent trips were made to visit relatives around the New York area.

When the family moved to Pompano Beach, FL, in 1970, Katie accepted a position with a title insurance agency. With the encouragement and backing of colleagues in legal and finance, in 1976 she started a new title insurance company and served as President of East Coast Title & Escrow Corp, where she worked to build the business and serve home buyers and sellers for the next two decades.

All during this time Katie and Joe saw their kids through 6 colleges and 1 fire academy, which meant in addition to countless welcome visits from the relatives back north, the norm was for students and friends to show up at the holidays, spring breaks, and on macaroni Sundays. Katie’s typical response was to throw in some more pasta, get Joe to put more steaks on the grill, and set more places at the table, as all were welcome.

Katie and Joe shared an unwavering love and devotion to each other. She was fiercely supportive of her kids; she was their greatest champion. But her true joy came in her role as Nana as her grandchildren and great grandchildren came into being and became the light of her life. She enjoyed every moment spent in their company—through the trips to Disney World, watching them splash in her pool, and visiting their homes, as well as the more recent FaceTime calls which allowed her to see and hear them when she couldn’t be near (although the kids had to mostly talk to Nana’s forehead on Facetime).

Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Margaret Duggan, and her brother, Joseph Duggan, Katie is survived by her loving husband of almost 66 years, Joseph J. Albano; children: Anne Marie Albano (Mark Olfson) of Brooklyn, NY, Joanne (Matt) Field of Bloomington, MN, and Joseph (Janine) Albano of Delray Beach, FL; sisters: Margaret Buss of Gilbert, AZ and Mary Franco of Delray Beach, FL; grandchildren: Emily Olfson (Andrew Loza) of New Haven, CT; Rachel Olfson (Oren Gal) of Boston, MA; Andrew (Ashley) Saaranen of Lakeville, MN; Erin Saaranen of Eden Prairie, MN; Matthew Saaranen (Elizete Diaz) of Bloomington, MN; Emily (Jacob) Orvis of Prior Lake, MN; Abigale (Peter) Bather of Plymouth, MN; Jacqueline Albano of Pompano Beach, FL; Lauren Albano and Christopher Albano of Delray Beach, FL; great grandchildren: Elizabeth and Oliver Loza; Georgia, Charles, Sophie, and Cooper Saaranen; Theodore Orvis; and so many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A visitation for Kathleen will be held Sunday, February 5, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Kraeer Funeral Home, 200 West Copans Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33064. A celebration of life will occur Monday, February 6, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Coleman Catholic Church, 1200 S. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach, FL 33062. A committal service will occur Monday, February 6, 2023 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 200 West Copans Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33064.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnnorth.com for the Albano family.