Obituary of Katherine P. Donahue

Mrs. Katherine P.(Leahy) Donahue died Friday, October 23rd at her home. She was 98 years old. Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, she came to the US after marrying her husband, Raphael E. in 1945, settling first in Newburgh, NY, then NYC and finally to Cresskill, NJ where she lived for nearly 30 years. She then moved to the Concordia community in Monroe Township in 1981 and finally to the Rossmoor community in 1991 at the death of her husband. She was employed in the banking industry as an executive secretary for over 25 years until her retirement. Her retirement years were spent in service to her church, which she loved, first at St. Theresa's RCC in Cresskill and then at St. James RCC in Jamesburg and finally at Nativity of Our Lord RCC in Monroe Township. At St James, she was active in the Pre Cana organization, with her husband, Deacon Raphael, giving counsel to soon-to-be married couples. She then served as the founding parish secretary at Nativity of Our Lord for eight years. In all of the parishes she belonged to, she was very active as a fund-raiser any time the need arose. Her husband, Permanent Deacon Raphael E. of the Newark Archdiocese and then the Diocese of Metuchen, died in 1991. She is survived by several nieces and nephews in Canada, New Jersey and New York, and her very special friend and confidant, Samuel Lawrence, and his family, of Jamesburg. A Funeral liturgy will be offered Wednesday October 28th at 11:00am at St. James RCC Jamesburg. Inurnment of her cremains with her husband will follow at George Washington Cemetery, Paramus. Memorial contributions may be made to Martin House for Community Justice Foundation, PO Box 1025 Trenton, NJ 08606.