Kathleen “Kay” Brady Bolz died peacefully after eight years of courageously fighting
Alzheimer’s. Kay’s husband, Bob, her daughter, Cassandra and husband Michael
Diegnan, and her granddaughters, Fiona and Adrianna Diegnan, mourn the loss of her
passing but rejoice in the legacy of love, compassion, care, and the happiness Kay
brought to all those who knew her. Kay’s deep love for scientific advancement led her to
request to donate her body to science, which her family is honoring to further the study
of Alzheimer’s Disease and hopefully find a cure.
Kay was born to Catherine and James Brady in New York City and spent her youth in
Freeport, NY. Kay was the first of eight children. She attended Catholic grammar
schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, graduated from St. Agnes High School in Rockville
Centre, NY and graduated from St. Francis College in Brooklyn.
Kay was a member of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Amityville during which time she
started her life’s work, the education of our youth. Kay initially taught the early grades in
Catholic elementary schools and completed her 40-year education career teaching 7 th
and 8 th Grade Science at St. Andrew School in Fort Worth, Texas. Some of Kay’s
greatest moments was having her students approach her many years later to share
their joy at being in her classes. These interactions clearly made her dedication to
education worthwhile.
Kay married Bob Bolz in NYC in 1972, after which they spent the next 3 months
honeymooning in Europe continuing their education in the German language.
Throughout their 52+ years of marriage, Kay and Bob loved to travel and visited over 35
countries worldwide. Kay’s greatest joy in life was giving birth to Cassandra and welcoming her
granddaughters. Kay and Bob cherish and adore Fiona and Adrianna, and Kay loved
every minute of being with the girls and watching them grow into lovely young ladies. No
matter what stage of her illness, she always knew their presence and loved to give them
kisses.
Following the birth of Adrianna and Fiona, Bob and Kay began splitting their time
between Texas and New Jersey before relocating full-time to Jersey City, NJ to live out
their years close to their daughter and her family in Hoboken.
Kay’s artistic instincts led her and Bob to become actively involved in the arts in Fort
Worth including the FW Opera, Symphony, and Ballet; Amphibian Stage Productions,
Stage West, Jubilee Theatre and Circle Theater. Kay is preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Jim, and all her aunts anduncles. Kay is survived by her husband, Bob, their daughter, Cassandra and her husband, Michael Diegnan, and her granddaughters, Fiona and Adrianna Diegnan. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Anne Brady and Loretta Mulson, her brothers Peter Brady, Bryan Brady, Paul (Claire) Brady, Jim (Gloria) Brady, and Dominic (Allison) Brady, and by sixteen nieces and nephews.
Visation will be held on Thursday, November 14th, 2024 beginning at 4:00 PM and concluding at 8:00PM.
The Funeral Mass will be offered at the St Ann’s RC Church on Friday, November 15th, 2024 at 11:00AM.
A private cremation will be held at East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kay’s honor to Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the
BrightFocus Foundation or to the Alzheimer’s Association would be appreciated.