Kathryn Finnegan

Engineers make bridges

Artists make paintings

Scientists make rockets

But TEACHERS make them all.

Kathy was born in Elizabeth NJ to the parents of Arthur J. Brands and Ruth Brands McLuskey on September 11, 1948. Kathy was the eldest of three children, Joshua (Chip) Brands (d. 2013) and Christine Ferdinand (Bill). Kathy and Tom have two children Megan Gans (Marc Gans) their children Lilly and Joshua, Patrick Finnegan (Lisa) their children Ayla, Ryan, Bailey Walker, and Brent Walker. Brother-in-law Lawrence Finnegan (Gene Alford). Her nephews Brad Ferdinand (Cydney McCurdy) son Brandt, Peter Ferdinand (Stacy) sons Hunter and Reid, and niece Gwendolyn Adair (Shaun) and children Grayson, Harper, and Madison. Kathy and Tom also have several “adopted” children, many former students and friends whom she treated as her own children.

Kathy fell in love with Tom before she even knew who he was. She saw Tom in the Little Flower Church (in Berkely Heights, NJ) and said “God please let me marry him.” Then they crossed paths again at Henrickson’s Pharmacy where she proceeded to make sure Tom had an appropriate card for his grandmother, not the ducky card he had chosen. 

Kathy was an amazing woman, wife, sister, mom, aunt, teacher, and human being. Kathy graduated from Newark State Teaching College in 1970. On August 8, 1970 Tom and Kathy married. 

Kathy will always be remembered as a kind giving person. She was the Queen of books, especially children’s books. Always trying to help foster the love of reading in children. She would read books just to try to find a book one of her students might enjoy and fall in love with. This continued when her grandchildren started reding as well. 

Kathy loved going to dog shows with their Old English Sheepdogs and then more recently their Australian Shepherds, Dasher and Blitzen. Kathy was the Vice President of the Northern New Jersey Australian Shepherd Club as well. She and Tom are also known as “The Clause’s” she would be Mrs. Clause and Tom Santa. She’d get a kick out of kids eyeing Tom trying to figure out if he was Santa – this usually started in October.

When Kathy’s kids were in school you could find her and Tom cheering Megan and Patrick on in ALL they did. It didn’t matter what it was sports, 4-H, and all of their music endeavors. When the grandchildren started having events they were the first ones there to support their grandchildren. 

Kathy was a teacher – what she is most known for. Kathy loved teaching. She showed love to each and every student she had. She treated them with respect and found their strengths. She’d often run into former students and be shocked at how they were suddenly be old enough to have a drink – She’d ask them and they would say Mrs. Finnegan I’m 24, she’d ask how that’s possible because she had them when they were 9 or 10! She also had some of her former students children, which she enjoyed as well. She was the first to try new and “crazy” things in the classroom. She just made learning fun and interesting, even when sometimes it wasn’t. 

If anyone would like to donate in memory of Kathy:

 Kathy was a proud founding board member of her sister’s foundation, the Operation Bling Foundation. Donations can be made in her name at https://www.operationblingfoundation.org/ or checks sent to Operation Bling Foundation, 6 South Street, New Providence, NJ 07974 please indicate that it is in memory of Kathy Finnegan.

Karen Nash Memorial Butterfly Garden at Memorial School (where Kathy taught) -- the round Signature Garden will be dedicated to her.  Check made out to KNMBG - Donations may be mailed to: Diana Dove, Karen Nash Memorial Butterfly Garden, Memorial School, 300 West Stewart St., Washington, NJ 07882. In the check memo : In Memory of Mrs. Finnegan.