Kathleen Dippold of Seaside Park, N.J., and Palm Harbor, Fla., passed away on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, in Palm Harbor with her family by her side. She was 80.
She was born in Passaic, N.J., on June 24, 1940, to John and Eleanor Polizzotto. After graduating Passaic High School and becoming an LPN, she began her career in Labor and Delivery at Passaic General Hospital and ended it in Sussex County at the Homestead Nursing Home. In between, she raised her family while working side by side with her husband at their jointly owned business, Hamburg Hardware.
Kathy married her sweetheart, John Dippold, on April 5, 1964, and they shared 56 amazing years together. They had four children, Eleanor Kielty (James) of Milford, Pa., John Jr. (Diana) of Louisville, Ky., Deborah Geiger of East Stroudsburg, Pa., who passed away in 2015, and Melissa Masucci (Anthony) of Sparta, N.J.
Kathy was an adoring, generous and loving grandmother to six grandchildren, Angelica Hope Dippold, Jay Geiger, Amanda and Deanna Massucci, and Cassie and Tyler Kielty. Although she was only 5 feet tall, her heart was larger than life. You could always find her attending one of their many activities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Kentucky. No matter the weather, Kathy did not miss soccer, band, volleyball, field hockey or any opportunity to see her grandchildren.
Kathy was predeceased by her oldest brother, John Jr. (Pauline), and youngest brother, Robert.
She is survived by one sister, Jean Stuherk (Harold) of Passaic, N.J., and one brother, William Polizzotto (Maryann) of Dunedin, Florida.
Her mother taught her to bowl at age 14 and she enjoyed the sport all of her life. In fact, the day before her wedding she bowled a 200+ point game! Over the years she bowled in leagues with many friends, including her mom, daughter and son-in-law and of course her husband.
Lemon chicken, Sunday pasta and meat sauce, pork roast and potatoes were a few of her well-loved cooking specialties. Christmas cookies and birthday cakes made for life long memories as well. Just ask the kids and grandkids.
She loved the ocean and her time at the beach in New Jersey, fishing with her husband and crabbing on Barnegat Bay. She also looked forward to going to Florida and Bay Aire RV park where she had a very full social life. Bowling, bingo, darts, shuffleboard, petanque, Texas-Hold’em, arts and crafts and rosary. You often saw her beautiful smile as she enjoyed these activities,
The family would like to thank the many physicians and medical staff who cared for Kathy over the years and especially at the end of her beautiful life.
Visitation and a funeral service were held Sept. 15.
Kathy has requested no flowers. Please honor her wishes.