Catherine “Kay” Cooney O’Brien, 88, of Shrewsbury, died Dec. 21 of COVID-19 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Newark, raised in Glen Ridge and Spring Lake, she graduated from Lacordaire Academy in Montclair and Rosemont College, Pennsylvania, Class of 1954.
Kay was the former owner of More To The Point custom needlepoint and knitting store in Fair Haven. She served on the board of The Women’s Exchange in Little Silver for 25 years and was the Newcomers Alumnae Club treasurer for 20 years. Kay enjoyed a real estate career with Brokers 3 Realtors in Shrewsbury as a member of the Distinguished Sales Club, National Association of Realtors and the NJ Association of Realtors. An avid bridge player, she attained the rank of Silver Life Master with the American Contract Bridge League.
The daughter of Royal James and Mary Gertrude Murray Cooney, Kay was predeceased in 2006 by her husband Kenneth A. after 50 years of marriage, and an infant daughter Elizabeth.
She is survived by five children, Kenneth A. Jr. and Gerard M. of Los Angeles, Mark H. of Brooklyn, Edmund C. of Chicago, and Casey O’Brien Blondes of France; by 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
A celebration of her life will be scheduled when friends and family may safely attend. Donations in her memory can be made to Rosemont College, 1400 Montgomery Ave., Rosemont, PA 19010, or Regis High School, 55 E. 84th St, New York, NY, 10028, or Saturday Soup Kitchen, 503 Asbury Ave., Asbury Park, NJ, 07712.
Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the January 7 – 13, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
