Kathleen Marie Maida passed away May 3, 2025, at her home in Oceanport, surrounded by faithful family and devoted friends.
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, son-in-law Michael and her adoring grandchildren.
Born March 11, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, 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. She was the high school ice skating team captain and worked as a candy striper at St. Vincent’s Hospital, but her favorite thing to do as a teenager was travel to Coney Island with Ralph.
Kathy attended St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Trenton, where she met her roommate and lifelong friend, Paula. Visiting Paula’s family in Rumson on the weekends, she fell in love with the Jersey Shore. Kathy graduated from nursing school in 1967. When Ralph returned from Vietnam, they were married Sept. 14, 1968, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and moved to Oceanport, where they raised their children and became a 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, a school nurse at the ARC of Monmouth for 13 years and ended her career as a private duty nurse. She was a member of the Oceanport First Aid for over 30 years. 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 and entertaining on her outside patio. She loved ski vacations, cruises around the world and Disneyworld, her pugs, baking, cooking and, most of all, bringing people together. Kathy also enjoyed searching for unique treasures at every garage sale in town, but she was the true treasure to her family.
Her greatest joy was being a wife, mom, sister, aunt, grandma and friend. She was the center of her family and the heart of their home.
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 is also survived by her loving brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Mary Jane Landolina of Mill Valley, California; her devoted aunt Loretta Pelosi of Brooklyn; adored brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Michael and Nancy Maida of Rivervale; loving sister-in-law Lois Maida of Brookyln; and countless beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.
Those of us lucky enough to have known Kathy and to have been graced by her loving spirit have been forever changed by her.
Visitation was held May 6 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was held May 7 at St. Michael’s Church, Long Branch. Burial followed at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oceanport First Aid Squad, 2 Pemberton Ave., Oceanport, NJ 07757.
The article originally appeared in the May 8 – 15, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
