Kathleen Anne Reilly

Kathleen Anne Reilly passed away at the age of 80 on April 3, 2026 in Chicago. Kathleen was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and spent most of her life in New Jersey before moving to Chicago in recent years.

She was a survivor above all else. She withstood a difficult childhood defined by loss and separation but persevered, earning an undergrad degree from Jersey City State and later a master's degree and then the equivalent of two additional master's degrees.

Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her 40s, she also survived three bouts of breast cancer and a colon cancer diagnosis and treatment.

She was a MENSA member from early on. Kathleen had a long and valued career as a teacher, with both special education schools and later as a teacher for 3rd and 5th grade for the Newark Public School system, before becoming a Reading Recovery specialist for Newark.

Her intellectual interests were broad and deep; in another time, she would have become an archaeologist, an historian, or a space scientist. Kathleen also held deep interest and engagement with politics and the news. She was an avid consumer of both and was not afraid to express her opinion on it. In addition, she was deeply invested in music (jazz, mostly, Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane) and with poetry. Kathleen shared her love of poetry with everyone, and her favorites were Seamus Heaney, Charlies Wright, James Wright, Evan Boland, and Dylan Thomas. She well knew that poetry can speak things that other communications cannot.

Kathleen is survived by her two children, Sara Connell and Christopher Connell, and by her three grandchildren, Maeve Connell Gaynor, Quinn Connell Gaynor, and David Connell, who she loved more than anything. She is also survived by many cousins. She is predeceased in death by her parents, Thomas Reilly and Catherine Hynes Reilly.

Kathleen wanted her ashes spread at Long Beach Island in New Jersey, the site of a family vacation when she was a toddler and she will rest in peace there.