Obituary of Kathleen Goodwin

“She is clothed with strength and dignity.”

                                                Proverbs 31:25

On Monday, August 29, 2022, God’s greatest gift was returned to God. Kathleen Goodwin of Succasunna passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family. She courageously fought a difficult two-year cancer diagnosis with the kind of grace, dignity, and strength that defined her life and continues to serve as an example to her family and all who loved her. She never lost faith or belief in the grace of God, embracing the countless blessings of her life above all else.

Kathie was born in Passaic on March 30, 1951, to Eugene and Catherine Finocchiaro. She was raised in Clifton and lived in Pompton Lakes for nine years before spending the last 36 years of her life in Succasunna where she has been an active member of St. Therese Church.

After graduating from Clifton High School, Kathie obtained her BA in Speech and Language Therapy from Montclair State College before gaining her master’s degree from Kean University. She taught at Sussex County Education Commission for thirteen years before moving on to Roxbury Township Board of Education where she retired after another thirteen years as a Speech and Language Specialist at Lincoln Roosevelt Elementary School.  

Kathie met her future husband George when they were in third grade at Mount Carmel Grammar School in Passaic, though she probably didn’t know he would become her future husband at the time. However, when George asked her to marry him in eighth grade, Kathie suggested they finish high school and college before sending both families into panic mode. It was George’s first indication that Kathie was the smarter of the two. Sure enough, on June 24, 1973, two weeks after college graduation, they became husband and wife and have shared forty-nine incredible years together. Together they raised three amazing daughters, welcomed three terrific sons into their family, and have been blessed with seven beautiful grandchildren.

Kathie loved all kinds of crafts but especially knitting and crocheting sweaters, blankets, hats, scarves, and gloves for her grandchildren. In recent years she also became quite the builder and collector of Lego sets. Kathie and George loved to travel the country on road trips but especially enjoyed Maine, their happy place for the last forty years. She also enjoyed the tradition of renting beach houses with her family in the summers and what became known as the “Christmas House” for a few days between Christmas and New Year’s.

Above all else, Kathie was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who was devoted to those she loved. She had a generous heart, a great sense of humor, calming demeanor, and deep unwavering faith in God.

Kathie is survived by her husband of forty-nine years, George; daughters Gina Marie Stripto and her husband Jeffrey of Howell, Jaime Lyn Preziosi and her husband Andrew of Wyckoff and Laura Ann Tillotson and her husband Daniel of Mount Olive; along with seven beautiful grandchildren Matthew, Jacob, Ava, Sophia, Brooklyn, Taylor and Dylan. She is also survived by her younger brother Salvatore Finocchiaro of Ocean City, MD and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, September 1, 2022, from 4:00-8:00 PM at Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph. A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, September 2, 2022, 10:00 AM at St Therese R.C. Church, Succasunna. Entombment to follow at Gate of Heaven Mausoleum, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the Memorial Sloane Kettering Pediatric Unit. Please visit the website at giving.mskcc.org.