Obituary of Maria Kozay Dock

Maria (Kozay) Dock, age 99, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on May 27, 2021, while in the loving care of her family. Maria was born in Kingston, PA on August 27, 1921, to the late Andrew Kozay and Helen Yanchik. She grew up in Passaic NJ. She met her late husband John in the bank where she worked with John's sister, Ronnie. They were married May 11, 1946, and honeymooned in Niagara Falls. They lived in East Paterson before moving to Wayne in 1955. They enjoyed a loving marriage of 64 years before John's passing in 2010. Maria loved being a homemaker and especially loved tending her yard and gardens. She had amazing Thanksgiving dinner parties with friends and family where no one left hungry. She enjoyed frequent trips to Lake George to spend time with her brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Dorothy Harris and their children. She especially loved intense Notre Dame football game rivalries with family and continued to watch Notre Dame football until the end. She also loved trips to the casinos, crocheting beautiful afghans, summers in Ocean Beach, traveling with her loving husband and singing. She was most happy going to performances by her grandson, Nicholas. She enjoyed every performance he gave at Caldwell University and would sing the songs for days afterwards. She will be greatly missed. Maria is survived by her daughters Joanne (Jody) Dock and Patricia Gifford, as well as her grandchildren, Nick Bushey and his fiancé Kristin Kelley, Jason Brill and his wife Angie, and Jamie Black and her husband Matt, and great-grandchildren, Ryan, Maddox, Maelle and Ashlyn. She was predeceased by her loving husband John (2010) and her brother Paul (2015); as well as her mother Helen (1990), father Andrew (1974), and her newborn son (1948). In lieu of flowers, we respectfully ask that you honor Maria's memory with a donation to the Caldwell University Music Department, 120 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006. ( All donations will go toward the Caldwell University Music Department Scholarship Fund) All services are private.