Kathleen "Kay" Zakrzewski

Obituary of Kathleen Zakrzewski

Kathleen "Kay" Mary Zakrzewski (Morris), Born on August, 3, 1938 in Ogdensburg, NY. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026 at the age of 87 in Rochester, NY after a long illness.

Kay is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Richard E. Zakrzewski, her daughters Deborah Zakrzewski and Jennifer Kennard and her precious grandson Benjamin J. Kennard as well as fur babies Belly, Button and Willie. Kay was predeceased by her parents Arthur J. and Kathleen Morris (Dennen), and her son in-law David Kennard (March 2022).

Kay graduated from Nazareth Academy then Nazareth University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work (Magna Cum Laude, Salutatorian). Later, she married the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Zakrzewski in 1961 after a courtship beginning when Dick allegedly spotted her entering the ladies room at the former Garden Grille on Winton Road in Rochester. When she left the ladies room he was waiting for her outside! The rest is history! Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, family, children and incredible memories.

She began her career as a Case Worker for the former Rochester Psychiatric Center. Years later, she became a mom and "homemaker" and make a home she did! She prided herself on cooking 3 gourmet meals a day for the family. Her delicious coffee cakes, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and endless varieties of baked goods were made weekly to satisfy our love for sweets. She beautifully crafted & detailed clothes, especially adorable dresses for us as kids. She was also a lunch mother, baby sitter and score keeper. She loved making arts & craft creations and would present them to customers at various arts & crafts shows, holiday bazars and sales. Years later, she became an expert antique dealer specializing in vintage jewelry, primitives, smalls, furniture, and rare collectibles, with Dad as the refinisher and helper. Mom led a full life complete with unconditional love, humor and a nurturing soul.

Some of the many fun things mom encountered throughout her life include hollering and gyrating as she ran out of the camper with a "huge" spider in her pants in Myrtle Beach. Mom came home with a broken front tooth causing her children to lock themselves in the bathroom in fear of the toothless mom. She could do 20 summersaults under water without taking a single breath. Mom & Dad would put a whole Santa Clause production on for Christmas Eve complete with reindeer sounds, jingle bells and Ho Ho Ho's. Mom loved holidays and she carefully planned and decorated the house making it feel like you were truly living in the holiday moment. She was affectionately known as "Kay Mart" amongst K-Mart employees, which represented her dying love for shopping that continued through her lifetime. For everyone's birthday, she would sing "Happy Birthday to You.." in a high pitched, chipmunk-like voice (LOL)- every single year.

She will be remembered for her warm smile, generosity, humor, love of gardening, buying, selling and decorating with antiques in their 1847 cobblestone home. She loved all animals including goats, geese, quail, wild deer, hermit crabs, hamsters, cats and dogs alike as well as camping, swimming, the music of Billy Crash-Craddock, George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Waylon Jennings, dancing, fancy sparkly clothes, shoes, bags, makeup, hair etc. She was a true fashionista of the times.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Kay's name to Alzheimer's Association or Lollipop Farm.

A celebration of Kay's extraordinary life will be held at a later date.