Kathryn Kuiken

Kathryn E. Kuiken (nee Thompson), age 69 of Wayne, died on Friday, March 29, 2019.  She was a Wayne resident since 1975 and had been a Haledon Elementary School teacher for twenty-two years before retiring in 2012.

Kathryn grew up in Wichita and Manhattan, Kansas.  Kathryn went on to study at the College of Emporia, Kansas, where she was editor of the Year Book; “Alla Rah.”  While playing cards in college one night, Double Deck Pinochle to be exact, she met Ken Kuiken and their love for one another grew quickly.  They were married on June 12, 1970 in Emporia, and after a honeymoon to New Orleans, they settled to Clifton and Little Falls before buying a home in Wayne in 1975. They began to raise their family and Kathryn continued her college studies at William Paterson College, eventually earning her Bachelor’s Degree.  She soon landed a teaching job in the Haledon elementary school and embarked on a twenty-two year career there.  She loved it, and particularly enjoyed having the summers off to spend time with her family and travel.  Traveling was by far her most enjoyable activity.  It wasn’t out of the question for her and Ken to enjoy five or six cruises per year!  They had some dear friends who would often join them on the cruises, and St. Maarten was among her favorite islands to visit.  She also vacations for nearly twenty years on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, in the town of Duck.  She was also quite the homemaker who enjoyed sewing, ironing Ken’s shirts, and reading.  On average, she had three to five books per month checked out of the library, mostly mystery novels.  She was well-read, to say the least.  With all that activity keeping her busy, she was still able to taxi her kids around to swim meets, baseball games, camp, and everything else.  She was always there for Ryan and Michelle, with dinner on the table at 6:15 sharp every, single day.  She was an amazing wife and mother.  Of course, she also endured great sadness when her son Ryan died in 2002 at just twenty-four years old.  She was never the same after losing Ryan, and grieved for him every day.  Surely her family and friends will miss her dearly, but there is solace knowing that she is with Ryan once again.

Kathryn is survived by her husband; Kenneth of Wayne, her daughter; Michelle Graffanino and her husband Rich of Oakland, two grandchildren; Emma and Connor Graffanino of Oakland, a sister; Marcia Andrews and her husband George of Arizona, a brother; Bruce Thompson of Redmond, Washington, her brother-in-law; John Spada of Long Valley, NJ, and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her son Ryan in 2002.

For those wishing to make a donation in Kathryn’s memory, please consider the Alpine Learning Group, 777 Paramus Rd., Paramus, NJ 07652 or visit www.alpinelearningroup.org.