Standardbred owner Kathleen Frances McMahon Abbatiello of Colts Neck Township, New Jersey passed away on Saturday, March 9 following a brave fight against lymphoma.

She was born and raised in Freehold. She graduated from Freehold Regional High School.

In 1960, she married standardbred horseman Anthony Abbatiello and moved to Five Point Farm in Colts Neck. Anthony Abbatiello is a member of the harness racing Hall of Fame, the founding president of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and a current member of the New Jersey Racing Commission.

Kathleen was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and was also active for many years in the harness women’s non-profit organization, the Speedy Fillies.

Kathleen is survived by her loving husband Anthony; her daughters and sons-in-law, Jean and Craig Sardoni, Christine and John Whelan, and Lisa and Jim Locke; her adoring grandchildren, Ava and Michael Sardoni, Shane and Jack Whelan, and Abigail and Ian Locke; and her siblings Ann Cagney, Mary LaMura, Peg Rabe, Betty Arcoleo and husband Joe, Thomas McMahon and wife Louise, and sister-in-law Gloria Hassett, wife of her late brother James McMahon. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister who will be sorely missed by all.

Visitation with be held on Tuesday, March 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold with a memorial service from 7:30 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 10 a.m. followed by interment at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Colts Neck First Aid Squad, PO Box 21, Colts Neck, NJ 07722.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Kathleen Abbatiello.

(With files from SBOANJ)