Kathleen Caroline Cleary

Kathleen Caroline Cleary (nee Smith) was born in Trenton, N.J. on March 6, 1927 to Daniel H. and Catherine D. Smith (Nee O’Hara). Kay was witness to many events in her 92 years of life. Being a child of both the Great Depression and the Greatest Generation, she earned a strong work ethic and a willingness to help others as well as animals at a very young age. Kathleen was raised by parents who had close knit families and appreciated both participating and being a part of their many family functions. She was a witness to her parents losing their construction business due to the hard times of that era and their struggle to regain financial stability through both parents working many long hours… Kay met the love of her life, Bernie when they attended a high school dance together. It was love at first sight. She waited for Bernie to serve his time in World War II and then they were married June 14th, 1947. And so their life together began… Through their union of love, three children were born. Timothy, who predeceased them in 1955, Colleen, and Terence. Kathleen enjoyed being a Mom, Grandma, Nana, and Super Nan… She was thrilled when her grandsons Mathew and Timothy Iaria were born and even happier when they married Matt (Jen) and Tim (Bonnie). Kathleen had the great honor of being Super Nan to Cameron and Corbin Iaria. Kathleen saw many things in her life as it spanned from the time of the Model T to the Tesla. She remembered people waiting on line for food in the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Kennedy Assassination, and the Twin Towers. She always possessed great insight and learned much from these events. Kathleen was predeceased by her parents Daniel H. Smith (1957), Catherine D. Smith (1962) son Timothy (1955) and her husband Bernie (1993) as well as her neighbor and friend Florence Price (2008). Kathleen had a lifelong love of animals and helping them. A volunteer with the ASPCA she rescued and cared for many animals in her long life… In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Popcorn Park Zoo where her last four furry friends were adopted from Papi, Junior, Tupelo Honey and her newest addition Lady Dog… Mom we will miss and love you till eternity. There will always be an emptiness in our lives but we were all blessed to have you for so long and honored to call you MOM…. Visiting will be held Sunday, October 6th from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St. Toms River, NJ. Funeral Services will be held Monday, 11:00 AM at the funeral home.