Kathleen Marie Maida, the most cherished, treasured, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, grandmother and friend to have graced our lives, passed away on May 3, 2025 at her home in Oceanport surrounded by faithful family and devoted friends.
In these past few months, as she faced her illness, Kathy was surrounded by the people who loved her—family, friends, and neighbors whose presence reminded her every day how deeply she was loved. Her beloved husband Ralph—her steady rock, her caretaker, and the great love of her life—was by her side every step of the way, as were her devoted children, Jennifer and Chris, and son-in-law Michael, who lovingly cared for her, as well as her adoring grandchildren and friends.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on March 11, 1947 to Julia and Alfred Landolina, Kathleen Marie had one younger brother, Michael. It was in Brooklyn where she met Ralph Maida at age 12. Childhood sweethearts, they built a love story that spanned more than 65 years—a rare and beautiful kind of love that felt like home to everyone around them. Kathy attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Elementary School and St. Saviour High School in Brooklyn, NY. She was the high school ice skating team captain and worked as a candy striper (a Vincent Teen) at St. Vincent’s Hospital, but her favorite thing to do as a teenager was travel to Coney Island with her forever love.
Kathy next attended St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Trenton, NJ where she met her roommate and now lifelong friend, Paula. Visiting Paula’s family in Rumson on the weekends she fell in love with the Jersey Shore. After graduating from nursing school in 1967, she was a devoted fiancé, attending chapel mass each morning praying for Ralph’s safe return from Vietnam. Kathy and Ralph were married at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on September 14, 1968 and then moved to Oceanport, where they raised their children and became a deeply loved part of the community.
Kathy was a nurse by profession and a caretaker by nature. She worked as a pediatric nurse at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, school nurse at the ARC of Monmouth for thirteen years and ended her career as a private duty nurse. In addition, Kathy was a member of the Oceanport First Aid for over thirty years. She gave of herself constantly and without hesitation. She had a way of sensing when someone needed help, and she showed up, never waiting to be asked. Her loving presence and her selfless actions have made a lasting difference in so many lives.
Kathy was vibrant, kind, compassionate, talkative and full of life. You felt her energy the moment she entered a room. She loved tending to her garden (in her bathing suit, taking dips to cool off), feeding the birds, watching her butterfly garden, entertaining on her outside patio. She loved ski vacations, cruises around the world, and Disneyworld, her pugs, baking, cooking, but most of all, bringing people together. She celebrated everything - and everyone~ Making no small nod to any holiday, Kathy paid tribute like no other -hearts, bunnies, clovers, Santas, flags, stars and leprechauns alike - each holiday spent with family and friends was a true celebration. Kathy also enjoyed searching for unique treasures at every garage sale in town, but she was the true treasure in each of our lives.
Her greatest joy was being a wife, a mom, a sister, an aunt, a grandma, and a friend. She was the center of our family and the heart of our home. Kathy and Ralph were inseparable - a love so genuine, so enduring, that it uplifted everyone around them. Their love and devotion to each other will span every dimension and last for eternity.
Kathy shared a deep bond with her son Chris and his late wife, Michelle, as well as a beautiful relationship with her daughter Jenny and Jenny’s husband Michael, who became like another son and a true partner in her care. Her beloved grandchildren—Tyler, Luke, Riley, Jack, Devan, and Ryan—were the light of her life. She loved them each fully, fiercely, and unforgettably. They shared many adventures and created family traditions that will be cherished and passed on for generations to come.
Kathy has a large, loving family of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends who love her wholeheartedly. She made everyone feel seen, valued, and loved. She is also survived by her loving brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Mary Jane Landolina, Mill Valley, CA, her devoted aunt, Loretta Pelosi, Brooklyn, NY, adored brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dr. Michael and Nancy Maida, Rivervale, NJ, loving sister-in-law Lois Maida, Brookyln, NY and countless beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.
Our world will be changed without her presence, but her spirit—her laughter, her kindness, her big, beautiful heart—lives on in all of us.
Those of us lucky enough to have known her, to have been graced by her loving spirit, have been forever changed by her. We will carry her with us, always.
We love you, dear Kathy, Mom, Grandma Kathy, Aunt Kathy, Mrs. Maida… We will miss you forever and a day.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 6th from 4-7 pm at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 7th at 10:30 am at St. Michael’s Church, 800 Ocean Ave, Long Branch, NJ 07740. Burial will follow at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oceanport First Aid Squad, 2 Pemberton Ave, Oceanport, NJ 07757.
Comments powered by CComment