Kathleen Mary (Finch) Marano passed away in Raleigh, NC after a brief illness on August 10, 2022. She was 101 years old. Kathleen's journey through life was the story of a remarkably resilient, inspiring woman who was blessed to live her years vibrantly, actively, and surrounded by loved ones. Kathleen was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, the third daughter of Ruth (Miller) and Charles Finch. After her formal education, Kathleen went to secretarial school and became a secretary. In 1944 during WW II, she met Frank Marano who was stationed at an US Air Force base on the east coast of England. They met at local Red Cross Club where Kathleen was volunteering. A year later they were married on April 21, 1945, and, a year later in April 1946, Kathleen and the couple's first child, Susan, arrived in New York harbor on the Queen Mary, along with hundreds of other GI war brides. They made their first home in the multi-family home of Frank's parents, Etta (Principe) and Joseph Marano in the Vailsburg section of Newark. In 1954 Frank, Kathleen and their four children moved to their newly built home on Club Rd. in Montclair where they continued to live for 40 years. In 1994 the couple moved to the Woodlands in West Orange. In 2012 Kathleen, widowed since 2003, moved to Magnolia Glen, an independent living facility in Raleigh, NC. Kathleen and Frank were members of the Montclair Golf Club and the Bay Head Yacht Club. Summers were often spent down at the Shore, particularly after they purchased a second home in Mantoloking in 1978. Kathleen had many interests and abilities. She was a parishioner of St. Luke's Church in Montclair and was very active in the Montclair Garden Club, serving as its president at one point. Kathleen was also an avid tennis player most of her life, as well as a good paddle tennis player and swimmer. She was a skilled cook, gardener, knitter, and bridge player. Always eager to improve her skills and knowledge, Kathleen took French classes for a number of years and participated in a women's Investors Club to better understand the stock market. However, Kathleen viewed her role as a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and trusted friend as her most important, and for that she was truly appreciated and loved. Kathleen is pre-deceased by her parents, her sisters Peggy Finch and Joan Webb, her husband and dance partner of 56 years, Frank Peter Marano, and her grandson Todd Murray. She leaves behind her daughters Susan Marano of Bloomfield, NJ, Mary Jane Mortimer and husband Chandler of Boulder, Co., and Lizbeth Marano and husband Mel Bochner of NYC, and her son Frank C. Marano and wife Sarah of Raleigh, NC. She also leaves behind her nine beloved grandchildren and their spouses, eleven great-grandchildren, and multiple nieces, nephews, and close friends. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a truly gracious, caring lady. A memorial is being planned for early November in New Jersey.
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