Carol Ann McGrath (formerly Kalafsky)

Dearly Loved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother Carol Ann Horn Kalafsky McGrath, 86, of Wood-Ridge, NJ, peacefully passed on 5/8/2024 at her home in Boonton, NJ, enveloped by the love and comfort of her family.

The daughter of Martha and Frank Horn, a Jersey City born Carol Ann graduated from St. Michael’s High School, Class of 1955 where classmates voted her Most Likely to Succeed. Whilst a full-time working professional caring for her six children, Carol Ann attended college in Bergen County.

Her professional career began in Hospitality at Ryerson Steele in 1956. With six kids in nine years, Carol Ann was enterprising and steadfast. When her youngest child went to kindergarten, Carol Ann embarked on reinventing herself working night shifts in Maywood at National Community Bank.  Confident and committed, Carol Ann possessed a work ethic always lauded by her colleagues and executive team at Lancor International and later Airwick Industries. Carol Ann’s penchant for financials as well as collaborating with coworkers and mentoring young women garnered her success and tremendous respect as female in the 70s and 80s workplace. Carol Ann championed for equality in the workplace while being a role model for work-life balance.

Carol Ann was unswerving in her seat as the wife of Raymond Paul Kalafsky; they drove together on the marriage mobile for 33 years. As high school sweethearts, the duo celebrated their wedding on January 11, 1958 with sister, Joan Dunn, as her maid of honor. Together, they raised a busy family, competed at biweekly bowling leagues, danced at The Knights of Columbus events, purchased a waterfront vacation home, and traveled with dear friends until Ray’s untimely passing in 1991.

Passionate about serving others, volunteer Carol Ann immersed herself in Southern Ocean County Hospital’s Interfaith as the travel coordinator. Carol Ann always dedicated time for gardening. Blooms, buds and bulbs grew in her Forked River garden and her heart. The arts fascinated Carol Ann; sketching and painting provided a forum for her to bestow handmade gifts to her friends and grandchildren. She never showed up for a gathering without freshly cut sprigs of her favorite perennial, a painted Christmas ornament, or crafted vase with dragonflies.

As a lifelong New York Yankees fan and with her passion for crime drama, Carol Ann prioritized friendships. Whether it was bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth or a mystery about to be solved, she would always make time to pick up the phone and lend an empathetic ear.

Above all, Carol Ann was immeasurably proud of her six children, 13 grandkids and five great-grandchildren. Fittingly, her family’s adoration was abundant; they meant the world to Carol Ann. Despite her health challenges, Carol Ann embodied grace and resilience amongst her cherished moments with family. Daughters Judith and Ann offered her endless support, encouragement, acting as her most ardent advocates. Carol Ann’s radiant smile and kindness will be missed by her many friends, including Ermine and Bill Haggerty, Marie Wilczynski, Peggy Moss, and Valerija Jovanovic’, her devoted caregiver.

Carol Ann was predeceased by her parents, brother William Horn, beloved brother-in-law, William F. Dunn, and her husband, Raymond. Carol Ann is survived by her two sisters, Joan Dunn of Riverdale, NJ; Arlene Coyle and her husband Bill of Summit, NJ; and her brother, Jim Horn of Florida. She is survived by her loving kids: son Mark John Kalafsky of Riverdale, NJ and his daughter, Kristina, her daughter Judith Licina of Barrington, NJ and her husband Brani Licina and children Aleksandar, Angelika, and Petar Licina; her son Raymond Kalafsky and wife Alexandra of Wood-Ridge and his children Jenna, Kimberly, Gavin and Brooke; her son Gregg Kalafsky of Oakland and his daughters Alyssa Kalafsky and Alana Cinelli, her daughter, Ann Kalafsky of Montclair, NJ; her daughter Carol Braun and husband Michael Braun of Randolph, NJ and their children Isabel, Christian and Ethan. Carol Ann was blessed with great grandchildren, Sophie, Charlie Cinelli, Silas, Ben, and James.

To continue Carol Ann's support and of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, please consider donating to St. Jude in her memory. Click HERE to donate.  

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Penn Medical Center and Dr. Michael Mainero who selflessly made house calls and dispensed outstanding medical support for many years.