Kay Mastey

On December 14th, 2015, Catherine "Kay" Galik Mastey passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord surrounded by family. She was 88 years old and is preceded in death by her husband, Michael Mastey.

Kay leaves behind many that will feel the pain of her loss. She is survived by her sons: Michael Mastey and his wife Aileen, Dr. Robert Mastey and his wife Carol, and Glen Mastey and his wife Kia, as well as her grandchildren: Sarah, Megan, Tyler, Conor, Chase and Kiera.

Kay was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was very supportive of her boys as they were growing up and was a constant source of encouragement to them. Their success in life was grounded in her warmth and love, and in her protective nature.

Kay was also an artistic spirit at heart. In her youth, she was an expert seamstress, and spent many years working in the retail and fashion industry. She designed some of the most beautiful window displays for several of the largest department stores in NYC. In her free time, she enjoyed painting, ceramics and pottery, as well as doll-making. She was an avid doll collector with over 200 in her collection.

Growing up as a Czechoslovakian in NJ and speaking fluent Czech, Kay was always fascinated by the cultures of other groups. She was an inquisitive person by nature, who always strove to learn more about the world that surrounded her. If you were of a different nationality or religion, Kay always wanted to find out more about your heritage and culture. Whether it was the language spoken, a special recipe or a national costume -- there was no detail too small for Kay to not want to hear about. Of all of the cultures she studied, Kay had a particular fondness for American Indians. Her bohemian soul found a kindred bond with this group, and she enjoyed collecting their memorabilia and sharing it with her grandchildren.

Of all the things she enjoyed in life though, Kay loved spending time with her sons and her family the most. She particularly loved following football with her sons. Long after her boys had stopped playing, she still loved to chat with them about her favorite players and teams. The fall was her favorite time of the year because of football season, the changing of the leaves and the fall holidays. When her boys were young, she worked on starting the first Haunted House in Caldwell, NJ for which she designed and created some spectacular costumes. She loved spending time with her adored grandchildren, and crafted so many beautifully written cards, letters and artwork as memories for them.

Kay leaves behind so many heavy hearts that will mourn her loss. We'll miss her twinkling blue eyes, radiant skin and her warm and distinctively throaty voice. She'll be joining the spirits of those beloved family members who passed away before her: her parents, John and Catherine Galik, her beloved husband Michael, her sisters: Mary Chando, and Elsie Carothers, and her brothers Bill Galik and John Galik.

You are in our hearts forever. We will miss you, Kay.