Kathleen Mackey died peacefully Oct. 9. She was 92, and had lived a long and rich life, marked by her deep love for family and friends.

Kathleen Marie Ryan was born in Manhattan on August 19, 1928, the second of 11 children born to Irish immigrants Thomas and Ellen Ryan. Her family settled in a home on Edison Street in Grant City, Staten Island, N.Y. Her 10 siblings, all male, affectionately called her Sis, a nickname she carried for the remainder of her life.

After graduating from Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, she worked supporting Catholic Charities in Manhattan. Throughout her life, aside from raising her own large family, Kathleen was always available to assist others. She generously volunteered her efforts to service organizations such as Meals on Wheels, local hospice groups, Mount Loretto orphanage, League of Women Voters, and her local Catholic parish. She was an avid reader and a master of word games (NYT crossword puzzle in ink) and bridge. She loved hosting her large family for card games and social events.

Kathleen married Richard (Dick) Joseph Mackey on Staten Island in June 1949. They had five children: Brian, Denis, Richard, George and Janice. In the early years the family lived in Charlotte, N.C., and Macon, Ga., before returning to Staten Island and settling in Tottenville in 1956. As their children grew and left the house, Kathleen and Dick moved to upstate New York, finally retiring to Toms River, N.J. in 1990.

In 2011 Kathleen and Dick entered the Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Martha’s Vineyard. Dick died in 2012, while Kathleen remained at Windemere and received loving hospice care in the last month.

In addition to her five children, Kathleen is survived by her brothers Thomas, Jeremiah (Jerry), Patrick, James, Martin, Robert, and Kevin; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brothers Denis, John and Joseph.

She will be remembered by all who knew her as the most unselfish, and giving person they have known. She will be sorely missed by all whose life she touched.