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Kathleen Kress, 81

First Lady of Montgomery Township

August 5, 1942 - February 4, 2024

Kathleen Ann Nicholson Kress

Kathleen Ann Nicholson Kress of Gainesville, VA died on February 4, 2024 at the Capital Caring Adler Center, surrounded by her loving family.


Before relocating to Virginia in March 2016, Kathy and her husband, (the late Robert W. Kress, who had served as mayor of Montgomery Township) lived in Skillman, NJ for 40 years. (Mayor Kress was a driving force behind Memorial Park, which honors all the township veterans. Memorial Park was dedicated on November 11, 2011.)


Kathleen (Kathy) was born in Norwich, CT on August 5, 1942, the daughter of the late James W. and Malvina L. Nicholson. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Julie K. and Jeffrey Becker of Chapel Hill, NC, and Joann K. and Michael Hardy of Clifton, VA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Ryan Becker, Nicholas Hardy and Lily Hardy who were, and always will be, the loves and eternal lights of their Nana's life. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Karen and Robert Wardrop of Newington, CT and her nephew James Wardrop of Cromwell, CT.


Kathleen was a graduate of Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT and Becker College. In addition to raising her family, she worked as a legal secretary in Connecticut and New Jersey,


A Memorial Mass was held on February 23 at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Skillman.


A private interment will take place at a later date.


In lieu of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, the family requests that consideration be given to making a donation in Kathleen's name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929.

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