Obituary for Kathleen Muchka (McFarlane)
Kathleen Muchka (nee McFarlane), at 87 years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at her daughter’s home on Cape Cod where she resided for the past 4 years. Born to the late Edward and Elizabeth (Cleary) McFarlane on June 6, 1935, she was raised on Macken St in Ringsend, Dublin with her four siblings and was a parishioner at St Andrew’s Church.
In her youth, Kathy loved learning traditional Irish step dancing and speaking Gaelic. She frequently picnicked with her grandmother at Phoenix Park and spent weekends at her Aunt Chrissy’s summer cottage at Sandymount Strand. She had a special relationship with both her Aunts Chrissy and Anna who were like second mothers to her. She saw them and her grandmother nearly every day. In 1957 at twenty-two, she met her future husband Master Sergeant Joseph Muchka at a dance in London, while he was stationed in Europe. In 1959, Kathy emigrated to the United States to Chicago, IL to work as a nanny and joined her sisters, Pat and Lily and dear friend Bernie Motschman. In 1960, Kathy and Joe married, lived in Plattsburgh, N.Y. then Exeter, NH until Joe retired from the US Air Force after 20 years of honorable service. They settled in Highland Lakes in 1965 and raised a family. After living there for 53 years, she moved to Cape Cod in 2018 for the rest of her life.
Kathy was a dedicated member of Our Lady of Fatima RC Church in Highland Lakes and a founding member of the Rosary Altar Society. The Church was central to her daily life. She attended morning mass nearly every day and participated in most Church activities. Kathy was very outgoing and well known for making people laugh with her clever Irish sayings and quick Irish wit. Her Irish soda bread was legendary. She loved cats, dogs and especially her parakeet Dirty Bird who spoke with an Irish brogue! She loved singing, dancing, music, crocheting, exercising, gardening, visiting Ireland, people watching on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, socializing with her many friends and was active in local politics. She enjoyed luncheons and day trips with the Senior Group of St. Jude’s Parish in Hamburg, the Vernon Leisure Club, the Vernon Senior Center, the Red Hat Society and the Wallkill Valley VFW Post #8441 Auxiliary. When she moved to Cape Cod, she continued enjoying life attending mass, live Irish music concerts, programs at the Dennis Senior Center, Cape Cod Museum of Art, and visiting the scenic ocean beaches.
Kathy was predeceased by her husband Joseph in 2008 as well as her siblings John McFarlane of Dublin, Ireland, Edward McFarlane of England, Elizabeth Copeland and Patricia Harris of Chicago, IL.
She is survived by her children Michele Smith and husband Jim of Lake Wallkill, NJ, Shannon Muchka of Chatham, MA, Colleen Muchka of Highland Lakes, NJ, grandchildren Kaitlin Van Dunk, Megan Brooks and husband Paul Jr, Heather Smith and Adam Smith, great granddaughter Penny Brooks, and honorary grandchildren Sarah, Rachel and David Silverman, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to Kathy’s Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Fatima RC Church, Highland Lakes, NJ on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 9:30 AM. Interment to follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Franklin, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod would be greatly appreciated. They were an amazing support system for Kathy during the coronavirus pandemic. Special thanks to Hannah, Kalo, Robin and Ann Marie of hospice.
In her youth, Kathy loved learning traditional Irish step dancing and speaking Gaelic. She frequently picnicked with her grandmother at Phoenix Park and spent weekends at her Aunt Chrissy’s summer cottage at Sandymount Strand. She had a special relationship with both her Aunts Chrissy and Anna who were like second mothers to her. She saw them and her grandmother nearly every day. In 1957 at twenty-two, she met her future husband Master Sergeant Joseph Muchka at a dance in London, while he was stationed in Europe. In 1959, Kathy emigrated to the United States to Chicago, IL to work as a nanny and joined her sisters, Pat and Lily and dear friend Bernie Motschman. In 1960, Kathy and Joe married, lived in Plattsburgh, N.Y. then Exeter, NH until Joe retired from the US Air Force after 20 years of honorable service. They settled in Highland Lakes in 1965 and raised a family. After living there for 53 years, she moved to Cape Cod in 2018 for the rest of her life.
Kathy was a dedicated member of Our Lady of Fatima RC Church in Highland Lakes and a founding member of the Rosary Altar Society. The Church was central to her daily life. She attended morning mass nearly every day and participated in most Church activities. Kathy was very outgoing and well known for making people laugh with her clever Irish sayings and quick Irish wit. Her Irish soda bread was legendary. She loved cats, dogs and especially her parakeet Dirty Bird who spoke with an Irish brogue! She loved singing, dancing, music, crocheting, exercising, gardening, visiting Ireland, people watching on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, socializing with her many friends and was active in local politics. She enjoyed luncheons and day trips with the Senior Group of St. Jude’s Parish in Hamburg, the Vernon Leisure Club, the Vernon Senior Center, the Red Hat Society and the Wallkill Valley VFW Post #8441 Auxiliary. When she moved to Cape Cod, she continued enjoying life attending mass, live Irish music concerts, programs at the Dennis Senior Center, Cape Cod Museum of Art, and visiting the scenic ocean beaches.
Kathy was predeceased by her husband Joseph in 2008 as well as her siblings John McFarlane of Dublin, Ireland, Edward McFarlane of England, Elizabeth Copeland and Patricia Harris of Chicago, IL.
She is survived by her children Michele Smith and husband Jim of Lake Wallkill, NJ, Shannon Muchka of Chatham, MA, Colleen Muchka of Highland Lakes, NJ, grandchildren Kaitlin Van Dunk, Megan Brooks and husband Paul Jr, Heather Smith and Adam Smith, great granddaughter Penny Brooks, and honorary grandchildren Sarah, Rachel and David Silverman, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to Kathy’s Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Fatima RC Church, Highland Lakes, NJ on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 9:30 AM. Interment to follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Franklin, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod would be greatly appreciated. They were an amazing support system for Kathy during the coronavirus pandemic. Special thanks to Hannah, Kalo, Robin and Ann Marie of hospice.