Kathryn Maire Koob

Kathryn Maire (Kolaniak) Koob, of Hackensack, New Jersey, passed away on March 29, 2024 in the loving presence of family. She was 70.

She was born on October 15, 1953, to Joseph Kolaniak and Concetta Camizzi, in Shirley, Massachusetts. Her family moved often in support of her father’s career in the Army, forging an upbringing that would take Kathryn across Ohio and Connecticut, and finally to New Jersey, the state she would eventually call home. She graduated from Park Ridge High School in 1971, and soon thereafter, entered the workforce. In 1976, she met Kenneth Wayne Koob, whom she later married in 1978. They would spend the next 46 years together as partners and companions.

Soon after their wedding, Kenneth and Kathyrn purchased their first home, choosing to raise their family in Hackensack. A few years later, they welcomed son Paul Leonard Koob and daughter Alyssa (Koob) Shale. Family was important to Kenneth and Kathryn, and together, like many of their generation, they worked hard to provide all that they could for their children, supporting them in each of their scholastic and athletic endeavors. Kenneth and Kathryn’s faces were familiar ones at school or athletic events and were even steadfast fixtures at Paul and Alyssa’s collegiate track meets. Still, home is where the family spent most of their time together, and sharing a love for animals, Kenneth and Kathryn always opened that home to pets, each becoming a much-loved and adored member of the family. It is a love their children continue to embrace.

Kathryn devoted herself to her family and children, choosing to stay at home throughout their early childhood. When she returned to work, she found a career in the Hackensack Public Schools, serving for 25 years as a paraeducator in the elementary and middle schools until her retirement in 2019. Her time with her students brought her laughter and joy, and the bonds forged with her colleagues were among her closest friendships.

Remembered for her quiet demeanor and gentle voice, Kathryn's kind smile and warm presence brought comfort to all. And while reserved in nature, she enjoyed moments of laughter and the conversation of good company. She found joy in life's simple pleasures: a warm cup of tea, the beauty of nature, and the peaceful waves of the Jersey shore. Kathryn’s most loved passion, birdwatching, was a cherished part of her daily routine, and she was often found patiently awaiting the arrival of visitors to her feeder, delighting in the return of old, familiar friends or welcoming the new ones. In spring and summer, she enjoyed being surrounded by the vibrancy of her flowers, but no matter the time of year, she enjoyed indulging in a new book in the company of her beloved cat. Her love of reading is one she shared, first with her daughter, and then with her granddaughter, ensuring their bookshelves were always full. In all of these quiet moments, Kathryn found a revitalizing peace and a meaningful connection to the world around her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Concetta, and her siblings Sharon Camizzi, Theodore "Ted" Camizzi, and Adam Kolaniak. She is survived by her sisters, Elaine Percevecz and Diane Reaves. She is further survived by her husband, Kenneth, her son, Paul, her daughter Alyssa and her son-in-law, Michael Shale Jr., and her cherished granddaughter, Josephine Louise Shale.

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