‘One of a Kind’: As she celebrates 80 trips around the sun, Kathryn Maccia’s family wants her to know how much they love her

When you make it to 80 years young, there is no doubt you gain a lot of wisdom and appreciation for life along the way. And in Kathryn “Kathie” Maccia’s case, her family has gained much wisdom from and appreciation for the matriarch of their family, as well as so much more.

“Her selfless nature,” her daughter Jamie said when asked what makes Kathie a great mother. “You can’t even tell her that something on her plate looks good or she insists you eat it. She is generous with her time and her attention and her love. And her affection.”

This applies to everyone in her life too. Kathie is not only a mother to two daughters, but a wife of over 50 years and a grandmother to seven adoring grandchildren. On top of that, she is a tremendous friend who many people seek counsel in, as well as just a shoulder to lean on.

Her husband Joe explained it best when describing how his wife fulfills each of these roles:

“A great mother is one who models love, kindness, patience and caring along with discipline, respect and family values, which helps to establish a sense of fair play.

“A wife has the extremely difficult job of maintaining the household. Planning meals, cooking meals and modeling love and caring.

“A grandmother provides support with lots of love and loads of kisses. Kind words and hugs should be a large part of her role.

“A friend must demonstrate the ability to always be there and give of her time. Having a great sense of humor along with a great laugh, and, most of all, the ability to demonstrate trust and forgiveness.”

Long story short: Kathie is loyal, dependable, and she just loves spending time with her people. And since August 2022 when it became difficult for her to go out and spend time with the people she loves, they have come to her and spend time with her because of the impact she has made and because of how much they love and appreciate her.

“She is loyal,” her daughter Janine said. “Her friends trust that what they say to her stays with her. She never judges and, if she does have something negative to say, she has such a way about her that will make you laugh while she’s saying it. She is such a good soul and will always have your back.”

Kathie has a true heart of gold. She is not one to gossip or turn her back on you, and she is completely and utterly selfless in the process.

She is someone who a lot of people have learned from over the years as well. Kathie’s toughness and resilience have shone on the forefront more recently, and for as long as her kids and grandkids can remember she has been a role model of love, grace and hard work.

“My Nana taught me how to love,” her eldest granddaughter Kiera said. “She has shown me from the day I was born how to show people you care about them, and that is solely from the way she has shown me how much she cares about me. Her compassion; empathy; words of affirmation–all of the amazing qualities she embodies as a person is what she taught me. She doesn’t know that she has taught me this; it has just come naturally from spending so much time together, talking so much, and having such a deep and loving connection.”

That’s just who Kathie is though. She is one to make a lasting impression without even realizing it, and she is continuing to leave a legacy for generations to come.

“I have learned how to love,” Jamie said. “How to start each day with gratitude. How complaining is a waste of time and laughter never is. I have learned how to be still and enjoy the simple things in life. I can feel her love deep in my bones. I never question it or wonder about it because I can sense it deep within me.”

Nothing about Kathie is fake. She is as true and as genuine as they come, and the utter love she has for life and compassion she has for others is something that cannot be replicated.

“Everything… I learned how to love, how to be a good person, how to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good wife and an absolutely amazing mother,” Janine added. “I am the mom I am because of her pure, unconditional love and her examples throughout my life.”

Growing up, Janine and Jamie had a mother who did everything for them and sacrificed so much to help them get the most out of life. And she did this in spite of all the adversity thrown her way, and she has always done it with a smile on her face while cracking jokes.

As for the grandkids, summers at Nana and Poppy’s were always looked forward to. “The shore house” was packed full of memories, and trips on “Waterfox” and out shopping were always special moments the grandkids cherish to this very day.

And speaking of Poppy, Joe loves his wife with all his heart. She has always been his better half, his rock and his confidant, and there is not a day that goes by where he does not appreciate Kathie.

The past 80 years have been chock full of memories and laughter, and this is all thanks to the woman who always looks at the positive in life and does not get hung up on the negative. She is a motivator and a natural teacher for her family, and Kathie is truly someone they all love more than life itself.

“I want her to know how loved and appreciated she is, always. How brave and persistent she is. How loving and selfless she is. How memorable she has made all of our lives and special moments. How great of a life she lived and how many amazing impacts she has had on so many people.” – Kiera