Obituary of Kathleen McGuire

Kathleen "Kate" Ryan McGuire, 58, a longtime resident of Montclair, died on Thursday, Jan. 19, in Mountainside Hospital. A celebration of her life will be held this Saturday January 28, 2012 at the Union Congregational Church, 176 Cooper Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043 at 2pm. Mrs. McGuire was born and raised in Bloomfield. Her parents were Anne Ryan and the late Charles Ryan. She graduated from Mount Saint Dominic High School in 1971, and then attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., graduating magna cum laud in 1975 with a degree in English literature. She moved to Montclair in 1973, and worked for IBM for several years. She earned her license as a real estate agent and was employed by Schweppe and Company Realty. Mrs. McGuire then formed a small business restoring old houses in Montclair, a firm which she ran for many years. These projects were undertaken with care and respect for each home's unique architecture and design; Kate had an innate sense of how to bring out the best in each house on which she worked. Her family was the center of her life. In 1982, she married Andrew McGuire of Montclair, the love of her life, and she became a stay-at-home mother to her daughters, Megan and Olya. Kate was involved in the local schools' PTAs and the Scholastic Book Club. She cherished annual vacations on Chappaquiddick Island, Martha's Vineyard, which always involved clamming expeditions with family and visiting friends. She was also an accomplished singer and was a founding member of The Fabulous Flemtones based in Montclair, as an incredible vocalist and percussionist for the group. Among her many talents were gardening, singing, and watercolor painting, as well as participating in many charitable causes. "Kate and Andy" were also veteran hosts of backyard barbecues and holiday parties where friends and neighbors were always welcome. Mrs. McGuire was predeceased by her father, Charles Ryan; and by a brother, Charles Ryan Jr. She is survived by her husband of 29 years, J. Andrew "Andy" McGuire; her two daughters, Megan and Olya; her mother, Anne Ryan; and her brother, John Ryan. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Montclair Volunteer Ambulance Unit, 95 Walnut Street, Montclair, New Jersey 07042; 973-783-7624; or to SmileTrain, P.O. Box 96211, Washington, DC 20090-6211; 800-932-9541; www.SmileTrain.org; Or, if at all possible, to donate blood at your local donor bank.