Kathleen Garden

Kathleen Ann Moran Garden (Kathy), 82, passed away on May 2, 2025.  Kathy was born in the Bronx, New York.  She and her husband, Richard, lived in four towns in Bergen County, New Jersey: Ridgefield, New Milford, Waldwick and Allendale.  Kathy was predeceased by her parents, Helen Gardner Moran and James Moran, and by her brother, Richard Moran (Lynn).  She is survived by her sisters, Vivian Swoboda (Paul) and Mary Ann Viviani (Peter).  One of her greatest joys was spending time with her nieces and nephew, Judith Swoboda, Christine Bailey, Keith Moran, Lori Beecher and Erica Viviani, godchild Michele Sabosik, her eight great nephews, Carl Valdivielso, Benjamin Valdivielso, Brady Moran, Blake Moran, Luke Bailey, William Bailey, Thomas Beecher and Andrew Beecher and her godchild’s son, James Sabosik.

Kathy’s deepest passion and addiction was teaching students, tutors and friends in the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in the Bergenfield, Waldwick and Ridgewood libraries.  She was celebrated for her ability to make ESL classes fun.  She received the Tutor of the Year award multiple times. Teaching English as a Second Language brought Kathy great joy.

Kathy was a kind, loving individual who lived out her faith in God. 

Visitation and Funeral Mass will be Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 10:00am at the Church of the Nativity, 315 Prospect Street, Midland Park, NJ  07432. 

In lieu of flowers donations in Kathy’s memory may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation New Jersey.

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