Obituary of Kaye T. Shaler

Kaye Glenys Teafield Shaler, a longtime Madison resident, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 7, 2021, at the age of 94.

Kaye was born in West New York, NJ on March 26, 1927, to the late Alvin and Jeanette Teafield.  She lived her entire life on the East Coast of the US, while having traveled extensively throughout the years. She earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from New York University.

Kaye had an equally deep love for the arts as she had for people and nurtured every individual’s unique value. She enjoyed reading, fine art, theater, ballet, classical music, exploring new cultures, writing and living in Madison. Kaye was a lifelong writer. In addition to her poetry and short stories, she inspired many people with handwritten, customized verse over many decades. 

Kaye married her beloved husband, the late David Shaler, a Syracuse University graduate, on November 25, 1950. The couple was married for 60 years, and raised four daughters. Kaye remained highly active in the Madison community. She was a Madison council member and volunteered in numerous town events. She was deeply committed to the Madison Senior Center where she served over 27 years as head of the Telephone Reassurance Committee, and also served on the Advisory Committee, in addition to many other volunteer assignments.

Prior to that, Kaye was employed as an administrator for the NJ Ballet, and as an English teacher.  Above all, Kaye was a devoted wife, mother and friend. Her generous and compassionate nature will be hugely missed by all who were honored to know and love her.

In addition to her parents, Kaye was predeceased by her beloved husband David on March 23, 2011. She is survived by her four daughters, Jennifer, Lauren, Kathy and her husband Ken, Amy and her husband Fred; cherished grandsons and their wives, Nicholas and Tiffany, and Michael and Saundra; grandchildren; Ashlyn, Makayla, Vanessa, Alyssa, Johnathan, and Christian; 5 step-grandchildren,13 step-great-grandchildren, cousin Scott and many dear friends.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a memorial visitation for Kaye on Sunday, August 22, 2021 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison. A memorial service to celebrate Kaye's life will be held at the funeral home at 5:00PM during the visitation. 

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in Kaye’s memory may be made to a local charity of your choice.