Kay Diane Kennedy

Kay Diane Kennedy, 85, lovingly known as ‘Grandma Cake,’ ‘Mana,’ and ‘Gralicious Gramamma,’ went to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ July 19th 2021. Her final days were spent with her family and close friends, which meant the world to her.

Kay was born in Rush County, Indianna on March 23, 1936. After graduating from St. Mary’s All-Girls Catholic Academy in Indianapolis, she drove herself cross-country to Long Beach, California. She worked as an administrative assistant where she met her future husband, John Castronovo. They were married 25yrs and raised 6 children together. They divorced in 1983, the year Kay moved to NYC. She worked for several record companies including Polygram and Arista, as well as the United Nations. She moved back to Oregon in 1987 to be closer to her grandchildren, where she worked as a dispatcher for Comcast for 20+ years. Her favorite occupation however, was being a mother, and a grandma to all. You were blessed if you got a nickname from Grandma Kay.

She is survived by her children, daughter Susan Needles (Ed), and sons Vince Castronovo (Linda), Deen Castronovo, and David A Castronovo. She also raised, in abundant love, John’s sons Jon Castronovo (Sonja), and Mike Castronovo (Tami).

Family services to be held at Restlawn Funeral Home and Memory Gardens, with a celebration of Life to be held Wednesday September 1st at Salem Heights Church at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, Kay would like donations to be made in her honor to Wake the World Oregon.