Magda Kajah

Mama, Oma, Omi, Tante Magda - all names of our beloved Magda Kajah, who passed away peacefully on August 5, 2022.

Magda was born in Pinneberg, Germany August, 20, 1936. She lived there with her five siblings and parents until meeting Horst at her church youth group. Horst and Magda married on August 25, 1956. A few years later, the two decided that moving to the United States would offer them what war-torn Germany could not. They were sponsored by Pastor Hüssmann and the congregation of Immanuel Baptist Church in Woodside, NY, a German community that became their family in this country. Horst, Magda, Angela, Christine and Stephan moved to Pompton Lakes in 1965, Thomas was born shortly after, and Magda and Horst would live on Marion Court for the next 56 years. Magda didn’t let having four children slow her down: she studied and received her GED, which was extremely difficult considering she came into this country without knowing one word of English. She was a stay at home mom until Thomas was in high school, and then Magda started cleaning a dentist’s office.  He, in turn, taught her to be Dental Assistant and encouraged her to study to complete her dental x-ray certificate. She worked there for 33 years and retired at the age of 81. Magda loved her work and her patients, and her patients loved her, many saying she was the reason they enjoyed coming to the dentist at all. Magda’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her joy and an ever-present reason to bake another batch of chocolate chip cake or chocolate chip cookies, which she loved to do. She loved to spend time gardening, too.

Anyone who knew Magda and Horst, even as an acquaintance, knew the great pride they took in their German heritage, which they very intentionally instilled in their family. Magda and Horst and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have spent many years maintaining German holiday traditions, participating in German heritage festivals, and attending the Steuben Parade in New York quite religiously.

Magda was predeceased by her husband Horst, 2021, her children, Angela Winters, 2018, and Stephan Kajah, 2006. She is survived by her son-in-law, Brian Winters, of Bloomingdale, daughter, Christine Pallo, and her husband, Steve, of Pompton Lakes, son, Thomas Kajah, and his wife, Marcy, of Londonderry, VT, and her grandchildren, Rebecca Peller and her husband, Jason, of Pompton Plains, Courtney Laurente and her husband, Michael, of Wayne, Sarah Hout and her husband, Jonathan, of Forest, VA, Kerstin and Heidi Pallo of Beverly, MA, Devan and Lily Kajah of Londonderry, VT, and eight great-grandchildren, Liam, Noah, Luke, and James Peller, Caleb, Hannah, and Daniel Hout, and Charlotte and Owen Laurente.