Marlene J. Kavaney

Marlene Judith (Smith) Kavaney, 86, of Glenmont, NY passed away peacefully at home on January 27, 2026. Born on December 4th, 1939, in Rockford, Illinois, Judi was the eldest child of Carole and Marling Smith. She graduated from Kirkland High School in 1957, then moved on to complete a 3 year nursing program in Rockford. In 1963, Judi went on a life-changing trip to Algeria with a medical teaching team after the country’s independence. On returning to the US, Judi landed in Chicago where she met her former husband, Patrick Kavaney.

Judi spent most of her career as an oncology nurse eventually transitioning to her honored role as hospice nurse, where she created meaningful bonds with her patients and their loved ones giving her immense fulfillment. Judi had many passions including promoting social change and teaching English to inmates and immigrants. She was an adventurous traveler having biked through the highlands of Donegal to hiking the mountains of Machu Picchu. Judi was well known for stirring up political debates and singing at every family gathering.

Judi is survived by her children Bill Benson (Leonore Benson), Mary Kavaney (Marc Isaacs), Kathleen Kavaney, Patrick Kavaney, grand -children Tiffany, Molly and Jack Isaacs, Sawyer and Naomi Kavaney, and her beloved cat, Angus. She was predeceased by her grandson, Patrick Mahoney.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas The Apostle Church, 35 Adams Pl. Delmar, on Sat. June 6th at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Doctors Without Borders, www.doctorswithoutborders.org, or the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, www.mohawkhumane.org, which were causes close to Judi’s heart.