Plan for the Future
Catherine Ellen (nee Lafferty) Perger, age 99, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, went to her eternal home on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Catherine, also known as “Kay” to her family and friends, was born in Orange, NJ, and was a graduate of West Orange High School Class of 1940. She was the daughter of the late John and Katherine (nee O’Rourke) Lafferty.
Kay honorably served her country during World War II, as a SPAR in the United States Coast Guard, from January 27, 1945, to January 24, 1946, as a Seaman First Class, and was stationed in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, NY. She made many lifelong friends and reminisced throughout her life about her time as a SPAR.
Kay was married for 65 years to her husband, Steve, until his death in 2015. They resided in Union, NJ, for 28 years, where they raised their two children. She worked part-time as a Secretary/Stenographer at various companies for many years when her children were young then later worked full-time after her children were older. In 1983, Kay and her husband moved to Palm Harbor, FL, where they resided for 31 years.
Kay will be remembered for her easy going spirit, good nature, and laughter. She loved spending time with her family and took great pride in her Irish heritage. She loved to sing and belonged to the Glee Club in high school. She loved music, enjoyed traveling, and was a voracious reader, especially biographies and autobiographies. She also enjoyed the beach, swimming in the ocean at the Jersey shore, and later the Gulf of Mexico after she moved to Florida.
In addition to her parents and husband, Kay was predeceased by her son, Stephen, her sister, Lillian, and her son-in-law, Timothy Marx. Surviving are her daughter, Karen Marx, of Safety Harbor, FL, her brother Robert Lafferty (Diomeda) of Parsippany, NJ, nieces Maureen Matthews of Lake Como, NJ, Nancy Tomaszeski (Paul) of Mantoloking, NJ, Cynthia Stul (Arnold) of Basking Ridge, NJ, Susan Perger of Oldsmar, FL, nephew Timothy Moyer (Debra), and sister-in-law Margaret Moyer of Union, NJ, and several great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.
A special thanks to the Pearl Team of Suncoast Hospice/Empath Health, who provided quality care and support for Kay during her last days, and for the staff at Addington Place of East Lake, where she resided for the past six years.
