Kathryn Budinich

Kathryn Budinich, (nee LaPrete), 71, of Jersey City and Nutley, passed away on Tuesday, May 29, 2018.

Born in Jersey City on May 21, 1947 to Nicholas and Josie LaPrete, Kathryn was a true daughter of the city's Marion Section.  With Richard, her loving husband of 49 years, Kathryn gave years of service to the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Marion communities, honing her gifts as an event and party planner and a chef.  Inspired by their experiences, she and Richie founded Word of Mouth Caterers in 1986 and later the nationally renowned 15 Fox Place in 1999, and together with their beloved son Marc, they have since shared the abundant joy of the Italian family table with hundreds of thousands.  

Kathryn is adored by so many and is survived by Richie and Marc, her treasured granddaughter Sophia, and her daughter-in-law Cindy; by her devoted sister and best friend Angela and brother-in-law James Murphy, by brothers- and sisters-in-law Martin and Joann Budinick, John and Diane Budinick, Geraldine and Richard Heuston, and Dennis and Charlene Budinich; by her many adoring nieces and nephews, among them Linda and her children Kevin and Dylan, Susan and Janice, Michael and Sherri and their son Ryan, David, Joanna and her son Aidan, John-John, John, Michelle, Ashley, Monica, Lauren, and Evan; and by her adopted son Rafael.  Her friends and loved ones extend far and wide, all having been swept up into the greater “family” that Kathryn nurtured, cherished, and fiercely protected.

Kathryn's legacy of love, warmth, kindness, and humor lives on in the memory of all who spent time with her and especially those who were blessed to enjoy her hospitality and generosity.

“She was the cook, the hostess, the comforter, and the keeper of all the mysterious secrets for how to do just about everything.” ― S. Kelley Harrell, M. Div., The Spirit of a Woman: Stories to Empower and Inspire

Visitation is on Friday, June 1, 2018, 1:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 9:00pm at RIOTTO FUNERAL HOME & Cremation Company, 3205 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07306.  Funeral will begin on Saturday, June 2, 2018, 10:00am at the funeral home.  Funeral Mass will follow 11:00am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Jersey City.  Entombment will take place in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: CureAHC (Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood), 8480 Honeycutt Rd., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27615 (www.CureAHC.org)