Kathryn “Kay” Maira (Lingg)
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Kathryn “Kay” (Lingg) Maira passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the age of 91.
Kay was predeceased by her beloved husband, Gaetano “Tom” Maira, and her son John (Lorraine). She was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister-in-law and homemaker who dedicated her life to raising her seven children and creating a warm, welcoming home that was always at the center of family gatherings.
She is lovingly remembered by her children: Michael (Beth), Thomas, Susan (Roger), Lisa (Frank), Kathy (Mike), and Karen (Jesse). She was a proud grandmother to Nancy (Chris), Michelle, Scott, Kevin (Erika), Sarah (Roger), Lynne (Derek), Thomas, Tina, Laura (Grant), Pam (Robert), Roger Jr., Jeanette, Matthew (Erin), Andrew (Sara), Kevin Jr., and Kristey (Josh). She was a cherished great-grandmother to Caden, Madison, Bennett, Alena, Nessa, Ethan, Ella, Gianna, Lorelai, Rylee, Noelle, Jaxson, Knox, Teddy, Oliver and Owen. Kay is also survived by her sister-in-law Grace and brother-in-law Mike (Jeanne) Maira as well as very special cousin Patty (Frank).
Kay found great joy in life’s simple pleasures. She loved traveling, visiting the casino, and completing hundreds of jigsaw puzzles. Never one to sit still, she could often be found riding her bicycle around town running errands or grocery shopping. A seasoned and confident bus rider, she was known to navigate to the far reaches of the RTS system for both business and adventure.
Ever the gracious hostess, Kay made holidays something truly special. Her home was the heart of family celebrations, where a bountiful table awaited all who gathered, often featuring favorites like baked ham, glace, chicken soup, cream puffs and her beloved fastnachts.
She never knew a stranger. Grocery lines became conversations, neighbors became lifelong friends, and chance encounters often turned into lasting connections. Her gift was making the ordinary moments feel meaningful. Everyone was welcomed into the Maira Family.
Kay will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her. Feel free to share your beloved memories of Kay as well as any pictures you might have. The family would be honored if you shared them.
A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on Sunday (May 10th) All are welcome. Please contact a family member for details.
My very deepest condolences to the Maira family, extended family, and friends. Kay and my cousin Tom are and will always be in my thoughts and prayers. I remember like it just happened, their lovely wedding Sam and I were privileged to stand up for. Childhood memories, holidays, baptisms , birthdays, so many to remember & never to be forgotten. Rest in peace my dear cousin Kay.
My condolences to the Maira. I myself did not know Kay personally but my mother Mary did. I’ve listened to stories all my life about Tommy and Kay. May she rest in. Peace
My condolences to the Maira. I myself did not know Kay personally but my mother Mary did. I’ve listened to stories all my life about Tommy and Kay. May she rest in. Peace
One of my fondest memories is from when I was seven years old. On my last visit to Kay she remembered it well. Tom and Kay had bought me a winky dink and you game. The way you played the game is each Sunday you’d watch the show, put the clear plastic up on the TV, and with a magic crayon you would each week place a line which they showed you on the screen onto the plastic sheet. Over the period of a month you would generate an image on the sheet. I got to be with them Sunday morning for quite some time playing this game and completing the characters. It was a lot of fun. But just as much fun was what Kay made for lunch. We had a roast beef with gravy. At home it would’ve been sauce and macaroni. I always had a dessert which hit the spot. This was a time before even their first child Michael was born. I can remember clear day as did Kay.
Ten years with Alzheimer’s was a long goodbye.
It was learning to hold love, frustration, fear and grief all in the same breath. It was a bittersweet journey— a slow, unfolding process of loss, yes, but also of love. It revealed to me how fiercely the heart remembers, even when the mind cannot.
Frustration softened by compassion.
Over a decade, the disease took pieces — dates, words, independence — but it also revealed things: the sacredness of small moments, the way a familiar story could still light up tired fearful eyes. I learned that connection lives deeper than memory. A hand squeeze still means I’m here. A shared laugh is enough.
Alzheimer’s changes everything, and yet love remains astonishingly intact. It begins quietly — a misplaced word, a forgotten appointment — and then gradually reshapes an entire life. Alzheimer’s asked her to release pieces of herself. Towards the last months names we not used often. Dates disappeared. Familiar rooms became uncertain and sometimes frightening. Yet something essential remained: the warmth in her laugh and the smile on her face when I walked into the room. “Hey! What are you doing here?”
There was heartbreak in watching the unraveling. There was tenderness in seeing how the soul still shines through the thinning veil of memory. Even as words fell away, the imprint of her love endured, at times her expressions of love were so vibrant and new to me, as she no longer guarded her true feelings.
Now, with her passing, it feels like both an ending and a release. She is at rest. The long goodbye is over. What remains is not the disease, but the imprint of her love — steady, unforgettable and woven into my soul.
Mom
Instead of good bye I wish to say hello to the one person ihave known and loved the longest time since birth. Hello on the portal that connected us recently. Hello whenever I needed just someone who listened . Oh yeah, thanks for the extra 26 years you were available since dad past. Hello every time I think of you , that’s how I want to remember you. Love Michael Andrew Maira, your son.