In Memoriam: Longtime Middletown Resident, ARC of Monmouth Principal, Kay Grady, 92

Longtime Middletown resident and former ARC of Monmouth principal, Katherine (Kay) Frances Grady (Leyden), passed peacefully on May 17. She was 92.

Kay Grady
Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home

“Kay never stood taller than 5 feet, but her diminutive stature was deceptive as she always had a big presence,
touching many lives.
Kay faced life’s challenges with dignity and grace and always maintained a sense of humor and positive attitude.
Kay will be truly missed by all those she has left behind.”
Loved ones of Kay Grady in her obituary

Born to Joseph and Katherine Leyden in West Orange, Kay was raised in Ridgefield Park. It was there that she met the love of her life, Douglas Grady. Doug and Kay married in June of 1951 and settled in Middletown, to raise their three children, Joanne, Douglas Jr. (Skip) and Kathy.

“After spending many years at home as a devoted wife and mother, Kay decided to rejoin the workforce. She was hired by the ARC of Monmouth in an administrative role and continued to advance within the organization eventually becoming the director of development, which was the position Kay held when she retired after 30 years.
While with ARC, Kay won several awards including the prestigious
Martin Papish Award in 1998.
Loved ones of Kay Grady

Kay was a communicant at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Holmdel for more than 25 years and St. James Catholic Church for 25 years prior to that.

Kay is survived by: her sister, Joan Tanner of Rochester, NY; her children, Joanne and husband Frank Delguercio of Hammonton; Douglas Grady, of Ft Worth, TX; Kathy and husband Ted Dlugolecki, of Hopkinton, MA; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Kay is predeceased by her loving husband, Doug as well as her great granddaughter, Leyden.

The family would like to thank the wonderful care provided by the caregivers and staff at Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury and Embracing Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kay’s honor can be made to the ARC of Monmouth by clicking here.

Checks may also be mailed to ARC at The ARC of the US
C/O Tamala P. Scott, Senior Director of Development, 1825 K. Street, NW Suite #1200, Washington, DC 20006 indicating that the gift is to be applied in memory of Kay Grady.

There will be a memorial gathering on Tuesday, June 15, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, followed by a memorial mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. James R. C. Church in Red Bank, and an interment at Mt. Olivet cemetery in Middletown.

— Edited obituary written by loved ones via John E. Day Funeral Home