Obituary of Mary Louise Kloza

Mary Kloza

Mary Kloza (nee Lanza) passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, following a two-and-a-half-year battle with brain cancer. She was surrounded by her family, whom she loved very much. She is survived by her loving husband, Kevin, her four children - son AJ, daughters Olivia, and Katrina, and step-daughter Corie; her mother Rose, and her three siblings Rosemarie, Frances, and Adolph. She was pre-deceased by her father Francis Lanza. She will be dearly remembered by her fifteen nieces and nephews, two grandchildren, her extended family and everyone whose life she touched.

Mary was born in March of 1966. She grew up in Chestnut Ridge, NY and graduated from SUNY Albany with a degree in economics in 1988. She worked as a compliance officer on Wall Street for twelve years, and also earned a Masters of Education from Hunter College.

Mary’s second career as a homemaker began with the birth of her first child in 1999 and never ended. Most recently she decided to use her Master’s degree and took a position as a part time para-professional for special needs children in the Millburn School District. She loved serving the Boonton Township and Mountain Lakes community, working as a religious education teacher at St. Catherine’s, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Class Mom, and Team Mom for the Mountain Lakes High School football and baseball teams.

Mary was caring and compassionate, and always willing to help others. She was devoted to her family, and treated everyone she met like a part of her family. She always had time to talk, and her ability to relate to people meant that she always knew what to say to make you feel better. Her laugh was contagious, and she always had a smile to share with others. Mary loved travel, dancing, and chocolate, and could be found most days reading and watching her children as they grew up at The Lake Valhalla Club.  She was so loving, and is so loved. She will always be remembered, and her kind soul will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631 or at abta.org.