Kathleen C Cruise

Kathleen Cruise passed away in her home on December 26th. She was under the care of her loving partner Richard,her sister Dania and Hospice. She fought Breast Cancer bravely for 5 years. She was 80 years old and one of the lucky few who celebrated their birthday on the 4th of July. She was one of three sisters and Dania Smolen is her only surviving sibling. Her parents were polish and her uncle was a monsignor with St. Adalbert's Church.

She attended Benedictine Academy and was found to have an exceptional singing voice which allowed her to play lead in her school plays and later in some off Broadway Shows. But her true love was Art, so she went on to attend Parsons School of Design. After graduation she went on to pave the way for women in the Art Field by becoming an Art Director for Gabriel Toys in the early 1970,s.

Then her big break came and she became Creative Director for Knickerbocker Toys. After many years the company folded and she went into business with Richard and they created a new concept called Rhyme & Rhapsody which made paintings of poetry and music.

She was a multi-talented woman who was also an excellent writer. She loved cooking and played classical piano.She was the warmest, kindest, gentlest person and the world will miss her.

Visitation for Kathleen will be held Friday, December 29, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Krowicki McCracken Funeral Home, 2124 East Saint George Ave, Linden, NJ 07036.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a funeral on Saturday, December 30, 2023, 9:00 am from the funeral home. Funeral mass St Genevieve Church, Elizabeth, 10:00 am. Interment St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.