Mary Catherine (Gallagher) Steady (82) of Cape May, New Jersey and most recently of Whiting, New Jersey, passed away on May 15, 2022. Mary was predeceased by her daughter, Jacqueline M. Steady in September 2019, and her son, Joseph C. Steady, III in February 2022. Mary will be dearly missed by her loving family which includes her husband, Joseph C. Steady, Jr.; her daughter, Maureen Steady and her husband, Jeffrey Kurtzman; her daughter-in-law, Susan Whitman Steady, as well as her grandchildren Austin Steady, Alexa Steady and Madison Steady.

Mary was born in Newark, NJ on June 3, 1939. Mary graduated from St. Vincent Academy in 1957, received her B.A. from Caldwell College in 1961 and received her Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Nova Southeastern University in 1996. Mary was a true trailblazer, receiving her Master’s Degree through an online school before most knew such things existed. She could also write code!

Mary was an educator, working for 23 years at West Cape May Elementary School teaching remedial as well as gifted and talented classes. Mary also operated the computer lab and was the driving force behind West Cape May Elementary School beginning its computer education classes in 1993.

Mary was designated as a Cape May County Outstanding Teacher, she gave workshops for other teachers for the New Jersey Department of Education and was honored in The Cape May Star and Wave’s 8th Annual Tribute to Women edition which featured and highlighted women’s contributions of dedication, community, creativity, vision and success for her work at West Cape May Elementary School in its computer lab.

Mary was a dog lover – she particularly loved collies and poodles. Mary would compete with her dogs in agility courses as well as have each dog certified in obedience training and as a canine good citizen and therapy dog so she could take the dogs to hospitals and rehabs to assist patients with their healing process.

Mary also participated in a program which helped kids who were struggling to read by having the child read aloud to a therapy dog. She found this project so fulfilling – it suited her perfectly – helping to educate kids and finding a way to do so with the dogs she adored.

Mary was an athlete – for decades, she rode her bike on the Cape May promenade at 5:30 a.m. and loved to dance with her husband with the dance troupe she founded, the Cape Island Victoria Dancers, which showcased their talents all over the tri-state area, including a performance at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

Mary had such a big heart – she was kind, energetic, empathetic, polite and generous in everything she did. She loved to laugh with her family and friends. She was an ambassador – able to work behind the scenes to achieve consensus in all matters that were important to her and the people in her life. Above all, Mary loved her family. She was an outstanding wife and mother – having a seemingly bottomless reservoir of time, love and compassion for her husband and her kids.

A Mass Service will be celebrated on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the Town Hall at the Pines at Whiting, 509 County Rd 530, Whiting, NJ 08759, with a lunch to follow at that location.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to: American Diabetes Association https://www.diabetes.org/dibetes/donation