Katherine S. DeGruccio (née Matthews)
1967 – 2025
Katherine S. DeGruccio, 57, of Harrington Park, NJ, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Beloved wife of Charles G. DeGruccio. Proud and devoted mother of Anthony Matthew and Stella Katherine. Cherished daughter of Niki and the late Stanley Matthews. Adored sister of Sam S. Matthews and his wife Anastasia, and Allison Orecchio and her husband Thomas. Kathy was also a loving aunt, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, and a dear friend to many.
She was a woman of strength, deep faith, and unwavering grace. Kathy was a devoted parishioner of both St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Cathedral and Bethany Church. Her trust in God remained steadfast, and she served as a guiding light to many throughout her life.
Kathy enjoyed working as a substitute teacher at Harrington Park School, where she inspired students with her enthusiasm and support. She had a love for photography, especially capturing nature and the people she loved. She also worked for many years at the family business, Matthews Diner, where she enjoyed talking with customers and making them feel at home.
Kathy loved to laugh and to celebrate life. She fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, from 4–8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 10 AM at St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tenafly, NJ. Interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathy’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or to St. Philothea Philoptochos Society of the Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, 353 E. Clinton Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670.
Kathy was indeed a woman of strong faith and resilience! Such a great role model for Jesus! We spoke and prayed together during her battle, and she trusted in God with all her might. We know that she’s free of sickness, strong and overjoyed in the presence of Jesus, and reunited with her beloved dad.
Your strength and courage, will continue to inspire me, Kathy.
Your generosity, kindness and selflessness will be missed.
I love you very much, Kathy.
See you in Heaven!
Dear Chip, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. While it has been ages since your wedding I can see that you have had a beautiful life with Katherine. There are few words that can convey my compassion for you and your children; you know all too well the passing of a mother too soon. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please find strength in your family and friends. Evy (Massar)
To the DeGruccio and Matthews Families:
Please accept my deepest sympathies. My heart was broken when I heard the sad news.
I have many fond memories from our youth, in school, and in the Greek church.
May her memory be eternal.
Chris Zahariades
Dear Chip, Anthony, and Stella, I am so sorry for your loss. I was so glad over the last year I had the privilege of meeting and spending some time with Kathy at John’s house during my visits to NJ. She was such an inspiration, fighter, and blessing. I will continue to pray for your family. With love,
To the Chip Degruccio family
I want to express our condolences from Arizona. While we have not been connected in many years I have fond memories of our families growing up together. We first met Katherine at your wedding and my memories of all of us having a great time left me with a terrific impression of her family. Knowing you and your character you made a terrific choice and a life partner with Katherine. God bless to both of your families. Again our sympathies to you all.
Your family has always been in my heart starting with beloved Stanley in Springfield when he first arrived from Greece. My deepest sympathy to you all. Niki losing a beautiful daughter, the DeGruccio family, wife and mother. May God comfort you all in your loss. May her memory be eternal.
I am so very heart broken to hear the news of sweet Kathy as she was a dear friend to me and I loved her! Kathy had a heart bigger than anyone I know yet she was a true fighter as well! We shared a bond raising our boys together in HP and one of my most favorite Kathy traits was her ability go into Herbert’s office and set the record straight!! We also shared a cancer bond as well and she had this incredible strength and love which allowed her to help so many others with this burden! Heavenly Kathy danced through her life with such grace, love and strength and I am grateful to have known her as my friend! My family sends our deepest condolences for your loss and we send you strength and love in this very difficult time! The Moshers
Charlie,
I am so sorry for the loss of your wife Katherine. Although I did not know her, I can only imagine how wonderful a person she was knowing you as a friend and colleague over the past years. Please accept my deepest sympathies along with those of all of my team at Messer.
The news of Kathy’s passing is so very sad. My love and prayers go out to you all as we face another loss so soon after losing my Uncle Stanley.
Please know that you are surrounded by prayers of comfort and healing. I love you all so much and am heartbroken. Kathy was such an inspiration…so strong and compassionate. She will be loved and missed truly.
May her memory be eternal.
I was deeply saddened to learn of Kathy’s passing. I will always remember her kind soul and sweet smile.
I first met Kathy at her parents’ home in the late ’70s, when my mom took us to New Jersey to visit her sister.
Kathy rescued my sister and me from a room full of strangers and whisked us off to her bedroom to teach us a word game, along with her own sister.
We brought that game back to Toronto and taught it to all our friends! So it’s no surprise to me that she became a teacher.
Over the years, at a handful of family events — again surrounded by unfamiliar faces — Kathy would spot me in the crowd and greet me like an old friend. And just like that, it felt like we were back at her parents’ house.
That’s who she was. That was the warmth she shared. That was Kathy.
Rest in peace, sweet girl.