Kathleen Ellen St. John Reich

Kathleen E. St. John Reich, of Long Valley, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, at Hackettstown Medical Center with her loved ones by her side. She was 74 years old.

Kathleen was born on September 29, 1951, in Buffalo, New York, to the late Thomas St. John and Catherine Etta Walsh. During her early childhood she lived in both Egypt and Switzerland while her father worked for Catholic Charities. She was then raised in Norwalk, Connecticut and spent the rest of her formative years there. She attended Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she met the love of her life, Bernie. After graduating with a bachelor's degree magna cum laude, she dedicated much of her life to helping others, working as a social worker for 22 years at the Hospital Center at Orange and NJ Orthopedics. Later in her career, she served as a library technician at the Washington Township Public Library in Long Valley, New Jersey, where she enjoyed assisting patrons and being surrounded by the books she loved.

Kathleen found joy in life's simple pleasures. She enjoyed reading, cooking, baking, gardening, cross stitch, jewelry making, and birdwatching. She especially loved visiting Block Island with her family, a place that brought her great happiness and relaxation since her childhood. Kathleen was also a devoted fan of the New York Giants and could often be found cheering them on during football season. She had a deep love of genealogy and spent many hours researching and preserving her family's Irish ancestry. During her time working at the library, she organized a genealogy group in order to connect with others who shared her passion. She also spearheaded her 30th high school reunion for CCHS class of 1969, where she successfully reunited all of her old Norwalk friends for a fun filled weekend of memories.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Bernie Reich; her daughter, Caitlin Brown, her husband Rajon, and her cherished grandson Liam. Kathleen is also survived by her siblings, Thomas W. St. John Jr. (Linda), Lorraine St. John, Michael Saint John (Karen), and Elizabeth Saint John, along with many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will fondly remember her.

Family and friends may pay their respects on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Maguire Memorial Home, 124 High Street, Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840. A service celebrating Kathleen's life will begin in the funeral home at 6:00 p.m. Cremation will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathleen's memory may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at https://www.mskcc.org or the American Cancer Society at American Cancer Society">https://American Cancer Society.

To send an online condolence, please visit www.maguirememorialhome.com.