Obituary of Catherine Pendolino

Catherine “Kay” Pendolino (née Terracciano), a lifelong Madison resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 12, 2021. She was 97 and just 4 days shy of her 98^th birthday.

Kay was born in Madison on November 16, 1923, to the late Giovanni and Filomena Terracciano (née Cerciello). She was the second oldest of nine siblings, some of whom she helped raise while her parents worked to provide for the family.

Kay met her beloved husband, the late Frederick Pendolino, at a roller rink. Frederick honorably served the country in the Coast Guard while Kay worked in a defense factory. She saved a submarine with one of her tubes from the defense factory. Frederick and Kay were married on December 29, 1943.

Kay was a devout catholic and parishioner of St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison. Her family was the most important thing in her life, and she adored her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren tremendously. She also acted as a second mother to her nieces and nephews. She greatly valued education and always urged her grandkids to further their education in some way.

Kay loved art, especially creating beautiful ceramic pieces. She opened her own studio in Madison called Kay’s Ceramics to showcase her ceramic creations. She also worked as a crossing guard for the Madison public school system up until she was 95 years old. She was wildly independent and adventurous, often going on long driving trips around the country. She also loved all animals and they always seemed to love her back. Her loving spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, Kay was predeceased by her beloved husband of 66 years, Frederick Pendolino in 2009; her daughter, Kathleen McCann; and her sister, Antoinette Brown. She is survived by her brother, John Terracciano; her sisters, Filomena Prudente, Mary Prudente, Virginia Piano, Caroline Pezzino, Agnes Yuliano, and Frances Caruso; her cherished grandchildren, Henry McCann, Fred McCann, and Heather Robinson; her treasured great-grandchildren, Henry Nathaniel McCann, Katherine Robinson, and Allison Robinson; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Kay’s life from 4:00PM to 8:00PM on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, held at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home at 9:00AM on Thursday, November 18, 2021, followed by a 10:00AM Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. For those that wish, you may attend the Funeral Mass virtually via livestream by visiting www.svmnj.org. *For the safety of all, the family kindly requests that all those attending the visitation and funeral services wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.*  Interment will be held at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in Madison.

In lieu of flowers, please make charitable contributions in Kay’s memory to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), PO Box 32141, New York, NY 10087-2141.