Kathy (Caffrey) Grabiec

Mary Kathleen “Kathy” Grabiec, 79, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Born in Wilkes-Barre on March 22, 1943, she was the eldest daughter of the late Dr. John Jerome and Kathleen (Lavery) Caffrey.   She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Marywood University in 1964.

Following graduation Kathy began teaching elementary school  at Old York Elementary School, Somerville, NJ.

After marriage to Joseph Grabiec in 1967 at the former St. Therese's Church in Wilkes-Barre, they moved to Utica, New York where she began teaching at New Hartford Elementary School, New Hartford, NY. 

She and her husband later welcomed three children.  She returned with her husband to Wilkes-Barre in 1978 to continue raising her children as a devoted homemaker, mother and wife.

Kathy was a voracious reader of NY Times bestsellers and novels of all genres and masterful at solving Sudoku at a rapid pace.

She was highly involved for many years in the Wyoming Valley Ice Skating Club where her daughters both skated competitively.

She enjoyed listening to The Three Tenors (especially Pavarotti), Johnny Mathis, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban.

She met her lifelong, heroic battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis head-on without complaint and it never dampened her indomitable spirit and Irish sense of humor.

Her wit and intelligence were matched only by her pride at being a Grammy to her four grandchildren, Gillian, Miranda, Jeffrey and Onyx.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, John J. Caffrey, Sr.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 55 years, Joseph J. Grabiec, daughters, Lauri K. Mencken and her husband, Thomas of Plymouth Meeting and Kristen R. Grabiec of Eugene, OR, a son, Joseph C. Grabiec and his wife, Courtney of Dallas; grandchildren Gillian, Miranda, Jeffrey, and Onyx; a sister, Eugenia “Gigi” Wolensky and her husband, Jack of Trucksville; and a niece and nephew.

She will be deeply missed by all who loved her and we will always love her ‘a bushel and a peck’

A visitation will be held Sunday, March 19, 2023 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Kniffen O’Malley Leffler Funeral & Cremation Services, 465 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre.   Private Mass and interment will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation,

8815 Conroy Windermere Rd., Suite 309, Orlando, FL 32835

https://www.helpfightra.org/

Online condolences can be left at KniffenFuneralHome.com

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