Kathleen M. Cerna
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Memorial for Kathleen M. Cerna
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Born in Cortona Park, Bronx, NY on Apr. 5, 1934
Departed on May 29, 2016 and resided in Kearny, NJ.
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| Visitation: |
Wednesday, Jun. 1, 2016
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| Funeral Gathering: |
Thursday, Jun. 2, 2016
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| Funeral Mass: |
Thursday, Jun. 2, 2016
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| Cemetery: |
Holy Name Cemetery
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Kathleen M. (O'Connor) Cerna, age 82, of Kearny, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2106. She was born in the Bronx, NY on April 05, 1934. In high school, she achieved the top score of the year on the New York State Regents Exam and then attended Fordham University. She graduated in 1955 with a degree in education with a minor in speech and married Peter Joseph Cerna, MD. She supported her husband through medical school and his military career in the US Air Force while raising 7 children. When Multiple Sclerosis ended her husband's career, Kathleen returned to school and earned a master's degree in Special Education from Jersey City State College in 1992 at age 58. She returned to teaching in Kearny and North Arlington where she started a chess club and was honored by the State of New Jersey for causing chess to be added to the state educational curriculum. After 20 years of service, she retired in 2010 at age 78. Kathleen remained dedicated to learning and to teaching. She learned how to crochet, joined a prayer group at Queen of Peace Church and taught reading in an adult literacy program and through the Kearny Women's Club and Literacy Volunteers of America. She was known for her faith, her quiet strength, grace, gentleness and was dearly loved. She was always an advocate for the underdog, often spending extra time with her students, helping them find jobs and teaching them to navigate through this world.
Kathleen is survived by her 6 children: Kathy (Cerna) Grant, son-in-law, Joseph, Karen (Cerna) Julian and son-in-law, Thomas, Peter Cerna, Juliette (Cerna) Twist and son-in-law, Leonard, Jeanette Cerna and Paul Cerna. Grandchildren include: Yuba Grant, Katelin (Grant) Abraham, Andrew Grant, James Grant, Shannon Julian, Peter Cerna V, Gregory Cerna, Natalie Cerna, Michael Cerna, Alexandra Schaefer, Stefan Schaefer and Jacqueline Schaefer. She has 6 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Peter J. Cerna.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating your time, talent or cash donations to your local literacy group in her name. Kathleen volunteered for Literacy New Jersey, West Hudson Affiliate: https://literacynj.org/donate.
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