Obituary of Kathleen Sharon Whelan

Kathleen Whelan, 76

Kathleen Whelan, (nee McCann), 76, of West Orange passed away on Monday, August 26, 2019.

Visiting will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at The Dangler Funeral Home of West Orange, 340 Main St. in West Orange from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Letters of condolence may be posted at danglerfuneralhome.com.

A Funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, August 30, 2019 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1 Eagle Rock Ave., West Orange at 10:00 AM.  Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Avenue East Hanover, NJ 07932. In lieu of flowers donations in Kathleen’s name are requested to; Memorial Giving, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Kathleen was born and raised in Newark before moving to West Orange.  She attended St. Cecilia’s High School in Kearny and earned her teaching degree at Jersey City State College.  She taught at Green Brook School in Green Brook and Eagle Rock School in West Orange.  In 1975 she began devoting her life to Catholic School education.  She taught at Our Lady of Lourdes School for 30 years and then at St. Cassian’s School in Montclair until her retirement.  Even after retiring she continued to teach religion every Sunday at the St. Philomena Religious Education program in Livingston.

Kathleen was a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes Rosary Altar Society.  She was a past Deputy Grand Marshall of the West Orange St. Patrick’s Day Parade as well as a member of the parade committee. 

Kathleen was the beloved wife of 50 years to Patrick Whelan. Devoted mother of Tracy Blaesser and her husband Don. Cherished sister of Colleen Whelan and Jim, Daniel McCann Jr. and his wife Dorothy, and the late Patricia Paxton. Loving sister-in-law of John Paxton. Cherished grandmother of Patrick and Brendan. Kathleen is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.