Kathleen O’Toole

Kathleen O’Toole (nee Granahan), age 85 of Wayne, died peacefully on Friday, November 19, 2021. She had lived in Paramus for fifty-four years before moving to Wayne in 2016.

Kathleen had worked as a secretary during the 70’s and 80’s for several area firms. Her most notable position was with publisher Medical Economics, in Oradell, NJ.

Kathleen grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan, before her family moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx when she was a teenager. Kathleen was in her early 20’s when she met Charles O’Toole at a local dance. They were married on October 29, 1960 at St. Margaret’s Church in Riverdale, NY followed by a honeymoon to Bermuda. They first settled into an apartment in New York City before making a move to the New Jersey suburb of Paramus. Throughout the years, Kathleen and Charles traveled quite a bit, visiting Nova Scotia, California, and Ireland, just to name a few. They celebrated fifty-six years of marriage before Charles passed away in 2016, and Kathleen has missed him dearly ever since.

Kathleen was a hardworking mom and was devoted to raising her four children. She loved taking them to the Jersey Shore and looked forward to their family vacations to Lavallette every summer. They carried on this tradition for many years, and her children all have very fond memories of those weeks at the Jersey Shore. Kathleen enjoyed reading, gardening, and celebrating the holidays at her home. She enjoyed eating, and her favorite meal of the day was dessert!  She was blessed with many lifelong friends and a large, loving family.

Kathleen is survived by her four children; Maureen Cosgrove and her husband Douglas of Wayne, Daniel O'Toole and his fiancé Supon of Hawaii, Deirdre Bua and her husband Darren of Oakland, and James O'Toole and his wife Elisabetta of Kenilworth, six grandchildren; Brendan and Diana Cosgrove, Karina and Sarah Bua, and Keira and Grace O’Toole, and one sister; Beatrice Hurley of New Hampshire. Kathleen was predeceased by her husband Charles in 2016, and by four of her siblings.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Judes Children's hospital at this link.