Obituary of Kathleen M. Neave

Kathleen M. Neave (“Kathy”) passed away at home surrounded by her children after complications from a brain hemorrhage on Monday, April 29, 2024.

She was born in the Bronx, NY on November 11,1951 to Lena Carbonaro and Guy Giacobbe. She and her family moved to Mamaroneck in 1967 where she made lifelong friends, including her sorority sisters of the Sorells, and playing the drums in an all girls band, “Spirits of Illusion.” She graduated from Berkeley College in White Plains, NY in May 1970.

In 1972, she married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, William “Billy” Neave in Larchmont, NY. After their marriage they moved to Camp Lejeune, NC until Bill’s honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1973. Kathleen and Bill decided to head north to settle down in Wappingers Falls, NY. During the years that followed while raising her family, she co-owned, with her sister Susan, Special Occasions Bridals and Formals, while at the same time establishing Neave Landscaping alongside Bill. She also was a coach and President of the Cheer League for the local Pop Warner for many years, and continued on to coach cheer at Wappingers Junior High and Roy C. Ketcham High Schools for over a decade.

Kathy and Bill worked tirelessly for 45 years to build their company to be one of the largest landscaping and pool design/install companies in the Hudson Valley. Kathy won numerous awards for her designs and sales with Christmas decor. During their years in business, they employed hundreds and mentored many. Kathy and Bill continued to grow the company along with their son, Scott, who joined them in 1998 and together they have cared for thousands of homes and commercial properties in the tri-state area, many of which are still serviced today by Neave Group Outdoor Solutions.

More than anything, Kathy cherished spending time with her family and friends. She took pride in bringing everyone together as the matriarch of her family, all of whom loved nothing more than being spoiled at “Mimi’s” house.

Kathy and Bill loved to travel; some of their favorite travels over the years included the British Isles, Rome, Venice, Florence, and Malta. She enjoyed entertaining at her home regularly and traveling annually to her dearest destinations of St. Thomas, Aruba, Hawaii, and the CMA Fest in Nashville, TN. Music was a big part of Kathy’s life; she turned music on first thing every morning and could be found attending live concerts whenever she could.

Kathleen was predeceased by Bill in 2022, and by her mother Lena in 1995.

She is survived by her two children: Scott Neave, his wife, Sari and their children, Ryder and Mikayla, and April Avon, her husband, Robert and their children, Hunter and Savannah; and her sisters, Susan Guerrette, Roberta Soranno and Roslynn Casey. She will be sorely missed by her father, Guy Giacobbe; sisters-in-law, Catherine Robbins, Susie Kenny, Betty Galletta, Pat Jensen and predeceased by Helen Fischer; as well as dozens of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and former co-workers, who love her and will miss her very much.

Her children would like to thank Sari and Bobby, her sisters Susan and Roberta, her nieces Leah and Emily, as well as numerous friends and family, who took turns with us around the clock - and never wavered everyday for six months - to always be by her side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 118 Cedar Valley Road Poughkeepsie, NY. Interment will follow at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, 342 South Avenue Poughkeepsie. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 to 5:00p.m. at The Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd. Poughkeepsie, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Memory of Kathy to:

HUDSON VALLEY MUSIC FOR HUMANITY
MFH helps provide support to musicians in a myriad of ways including providing musical instruments to local
school districts, as well as music scholarships and grants to young aspiring musicians.
https://www.hvgives.org/organizations/music-for-humanity

THE TORY BURCH FOUNDATION
Empowering women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, education and community.
https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/donate/