Kathleen Ellen Butch, of Wall Township, a devoted matriarch, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on March 9, 2022. She was 83.

Kathleen was born in Jersey City, daughter of the late Thomas and Helen (O’Connor) Finnerty. She and her sister Joan Boyle (Gerard) were raised on West 11th Street in Bayonne. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea School in Bayonne and St. Aloysius Academy in Jersey City. Prior to her marriage, she worked as a cashier at the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company where she was chosen to model for their advertising campaign. She married the love of her life, Donald, and began their life together at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Arlington, Virginia, where she welcomed her first child.

Returning home, she moved to Boulevard Gardens in Bayonne where she and Don grew the family and forged lifelong friendships. They later moved to the Jersey Shore and raised their children in Toms River, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township. A celebrated hostess, Kathleen was known for her St. Patrick’s Day parties, summer barbecues and family get-togethers. 

In addition to being a homemaker, Kathleen was a member of the Women of Irish Heritage and the James F. Ackerman Federation of the Jersey Shore Medical Foundation. For ten years, she was the receptionist at the parish office of Holy Innocents Church in Neptune.

Kathleen was an avid reader, and rarely could you find a subject that she couldn’t discuss. She loved to talk about politics, history and movies. She was known for her delightful personality, good looks, generosity and kindness. Kathleen’s greatest love was reserved for her children and grandchildren to whom she provided, as she was fond of saying, “roots and wings.”

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Donald, and her sister, Joan.

Kathleen leaves to cherish her memories, her devoted children, Susan Cox Henry (Jon) of Spring Lake Heights, Rev. Brian T. Butch of Freehold, Kerry Margaret Butch of Asbury Park, Megan Queen (Robert) of Wall Township and Kevin Butch of Avon-by-the-Sea; five grandchildren, Ryan Cox (Guoqing), Christopher Cox (Lei Lei), Jaime Kate Queen, Matthew Butch, Kate Butch, and her great grandson, Ryan Cox.

She also leaves behind her niece Tara, and nephews Thomas, Terrence, and Robert, as well as many dear friends and extended family members.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 16th at 10:30am at St. Margaret Church located at the Corner of 3rd and Ludlow Aves in Spring Lake, NJ, 07762. The Mass will be accessible via www.scsmsl.org which is St. Margaret’s website, scroll down to box that say’s watch Mass from St. Margaret. Click this box and  Streamspot will open 15 minutes prior to the Mass. 

In observance of the Catholic period of Lent, no flowers will be allowed in the Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sisters Academy in care of The Mercy Center, 1106 Main Street, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 07712 to support the purchase of schoolbooks for their inaugural Fourth Grade class.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall Twp.

To offer condolences to the family please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com