Obituary of Kathleen M. Smyth
Piscataway, NJ - Kathleen (Kathy) Smyth, nee Mercer, 86, of Piscataway, NJ passed away at rwj Hospital in New Brunswick on August 13, 2022. The daughter of the late Quintin Mercer and Dorothy Thorsen, Kathy was born in Flushing, Queens, ny and lived in 19 different places in 19 years, resulting in numerous “Little Orphan Annie” stories. Kathy attended Richmond Hill and Andrew Jackson High Schools in Queens. After graduation, Kathy worked for Equitable Life Assurance Society in Manhattan where she met her future husband and love of her life, Dennis Smyth.
She worked as a secretary for Sperry Gyroscope Co. on Long Island until her first child was born.
Kathy and Dennis married in 1957 and moved to Piscataway in 1962 where she considered herself “one lucky duck” to live in one place for the rest of her life. Kathy was a stay at home mom while raising six children until she reentered the work force in 1978. She later interviewed for a position with Middlesex County Educational Commission and when asked if she could do the job; she responded, “Is it harder than doing the laundry?" She got the job and did excellent work until she retired in 1998.
Kathy loved to travel and spend summers at the Jersey Shore. For fifteen years, she taught Irish (Ceili) folk dancing lessons, with her close friends Joe & Margaret Mulrooney for the Somerset County Ancient Order of Hibernians. She was also an avid reader and loved to crochet afghans for family and friends.
Predeceased by her brother Stewart Mercer, surviving her is her devoted husband Dennis and her loving children; daughters Doreen Smyth, Kathleen Smyth (Nick Kosarych), Laure (Bill Ulichney), Denise (Carl Bettinger); Sons Kerry (Christine) Smyth and Tim Smyth. She will be missed by her granddaughters; Molly McPherson (Josh Zosky), Brenna (Anthony) George and great-grandchildren; Bryson George and Maura McZosky. Kathy also leaves behind her sisters, Judith Gingras, Linda Thorsen and Diane Toomey, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place at Middlesex Funeral Home, 528 Bound Brook Road, Middlesex, NJ 08846 on Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 4:00pm - 7:00pm and on Friday, August 19, 2022 beginning 9:00am. Funeral services will begin in the funeral home on Friday, August 19, 2022 at 10:00am with burial to follow at Resurrection Burial Park in Piscataway.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity (rvhabitat.org) or Fish Inc. (fishdunellenarea.org) of Dunellen, NJ. Please visit www.MiddlesexFuneralHome.com to send online condolences to Kathy's family.