Kathleen M. Haas

Born to Michael Gilligan and Catherine McDonough Gilligan on February 9, 1924; sister to Marie (Sr. St Clare of the Sisters of St. Joseph), John, and Michael, they lived in the Greenville section, Jersey City, in a three-bedroom apartment filled with family and happiness. Her father was a court reporter who commuted to New York. Strong Irish immigrant roots stayed, and the home was a home for aunts and uncles as well as her immediate family.

Kathleen attended St Michael’s Grammar School and High School, and was trained as a secretary. Graduating in 1941, she went to work at Harborside Terminal for a freight company in a secretarial pool. She would wonder at the boat loads of German prisoners unloading as the war progressed, and saw her brother John serve in India, while brother Michael entered service at the end of the war.

She met Edward J. from Weehawken at a dance hall (!?!) near the Union City Transfer Station in 1950, and proceeded to marriage in 1951. She proceeded to create a home in a two-bedroom apartment on Boulevard East, where Ed Jr., Marian, and Kathy were born, looking out each day at the spectacular New York City skyline. In 1959 she moved with her family to Hauxhurst Avenue, gave birth to Robert and Thomas, took in a dog named Pépé, and saw the family grow through the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Her family was parishioners at St. Augustine’s in Union City, and we recall morning masses, bingo, First Communions, report cards, Confirmations, Scouting, and card parties that Kathleen supported. She was crossing guard on our corner, and returned to work at Standard Brands in the ‘70’s. When they closed, she found a new calling as a teacher’s aide for the North Hudson Jointure School. She and Ed loved coffee in North Hudson Park, camping at Rogers Rock and Tip Tam, shopping, and vacations in Florida.

In 1985 she and Edward moved happily into retirement in Toms River (Silver Ridge) for the next thirty-odd years – longer than anywhere else! Winters with friends at Nalcrest in Florida, grandchildren (thirteen), four great-grandchildren, and her husband (of course!) kept her on her toes and energized. While she had health challenges along the way, she thrived and lived longer and better than most.

Her happy spirit is the greatest gift we have from her, and we would be nothing, if not for her love and support our entire lives.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2016 from 2-6 PM at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, NJ. Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday, March 6 at 10AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, South Orange, with committal service and burial to follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran’s Cemetery, Wrightstown, at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathleen’s name may be made to the St. Augustine School 3920 New York Avenue Union City, NJ 07087 (https://catholicschoolsnj.org/donate-staugustine/).