Catherine Decker Sands

Catherine Decker Sands of Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, NJ, passed away on August 21st at the age of 96. Born in Belfast in 1925 to Charles Mills and Isabelle (Decker) Mills, Cathy was 1 of 9 siblings. In 1950 she and her beloved husband, John, immigrated to the United States with their three young children. Their future was not pre-ordained to be a success. Cathy and John worked hard in pursuit of the American Dream, and to ensure a bright future for their children, one working the night shift and one working days for years. The life they achieved they earned, and their 76-year marriage was a blessing and inspiration, parted only by John’s death last March. The lives their children achieved were in no small part due to the foundations John and Cathy built in those early years in Jersey City and Kearny - Irish immigrants finding their way in a new frontier. Working at RCA, Cathy was a trailblazer gaining top security clearance and progressing through the ranks. Everyone knew “Irish” was a force to be reckoned with. Her family was her absolute pride and joy. Surrounded by love was how she thrived, always happy to boast about the accomplishments of her children Charlie (Valerie), John (Adrianna), and Catherine Hiler (Jack), her seven grandchildren, and her nine great-grandchildren. And her love extended beyond them to so many who loved “Nana” and “Aunt Kathleen” in return. Her other great loves were God and Country. Her nightly prayers included “God Bless America”, “God Bless” was written in every card, and “Good Night and God Bless” was her loving mantra. Cathy proudly lived life to the fullest, quitting a circuit gym in her 80s, proclaiming the workouts were “too easy”, and keeping up her jump-roping skills while in her 90s. Her family would brag of her amazing intelligence and sharp wit, her vivacity, her determination, her steel trap of a memory, and, above all, her unconditional love of them. No birthday will be the same without her, unaided by any reminder, being the first call and singing Happy Birthday along with John. She also cultivated an amazing group of friends she loved to meet over a glass of Scotch, dinner, or a game of Rummikub. Whether in Kearny, Tinton Falls, or Pompano Beach, FL Cathy was always up for a gathering and had a story to share. Her life and her story were beautiful. In addition to her children, Catherine is survived by her grandchildren Marcus Sands (Rose Ann), Heather Sands, Carey Michaels (Andrew), John Sands (Nora), Alison Isaacson (Nathan), Caitlin Schott (Jake), and Morgan Hiler; and her great-grandchildren George and Amber Sands, Amanda and Mateo Jimenez, Landon and John Sands, Reagan and Brooks Schott and Eliza Decker Isaacson. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. The family requests no flowers please, but donations in Cathy’s memory may be made to Butterfly Wishes 67 Walnut Ave, Suite 205, Clark, NJ 07066 or to Seabrook Benevolent Care Fund 3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753. For online condolences, please visit Cathy’s memorial page at www.bongarzonefuneralhome.com

Catherine Decker Sands

April 29, 1925 - August 21, 2021