Kathleen Marie Catanzaro

Kathleen Marie Fay Catanzaro, a Denver native and resident of Arvada since 1960, entered heaven's gates on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Born in the middle of the Great Depression in Denver, Colorado, she was the second child of James Edward Fay II and Amelia Phyllis Ziller. She grew up in Montrose, Colorado living with her mother's family and helping out on the farm and dairy. She was surrounded by many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. After the Depression, her family moved back to Denver. She had several aunts and uncles on her dad's side of the family in the Denver area. Amazingly, she was a rather sickly child in her younger years, contracting pneumonia twice. She played the flute in middle school, well enough to go to the state competition. In high school she continued playing the flute in the band and even the piccolo in the All City Orchestra. She graduated from North High School in 1947. In January 1948, she started college at the University of Colorado, Boulder. During her college days she was part of the Calico Boots Square Dancing Club. She sewed her own dresses and petticoats for the dances. While working during the summer on campus, she met Salvatore (Sam) John Catanzaro in the campus cafeteria where they were both "hashers", they setup, cleaned tables, and floors. They began dating, and being he is much taller than her (6'1" to her 5'2"), she was teased as being his little sister. Although saddened by her mother's passing in 1950, she continued college and graduated in June 1951. After working during the summer, she and Sam were married on October 6, 1951. Sam had signed up with the Air Force in January and left for the service shortly after they were married. Through the moves from Denver to California, back to Denver, Wyoming, Nebraska, and back to Denver, she tended the many owies, sewed many dresses, and played Santa Claus. Kathleen always made the best of every occasion. She dug her heels in and sewed, learned to cook, and be the best wife, homemaker, and mother to 10 children. She was the Campfire Girls group leader for Pat, Cindy and Mary, assisted Kris with sewing in 4-H, watched Kathy and Teresa learn to figure skate, cheered on her boys, Paul, Sam, Joe and Pete during their various sporting events, and was the president of the Altar and Rosary at St. Anne's. She taught her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the power of honesty, humor, and hard work. She was always the teacher, the encourager, and pillar upon which her children grew and relied. Kathleen is survived by her husband, Sam, and 10 children: Kris Brooks, Pat Colley, Cindy McKinley, Paul Catanzaro, Kathy Nicholson, Mary O'Neill, Teresa Spicer, Sam Catanzaro, Joe Catanzaro, and Peter Catanzaro, 35 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Jim Fay (Janet), nephews, Jim and Jon, and niece Judy. Memorial donations may be made in Kathleen's honor to: American Cancer Society 2255 South Oneida Street Denver, Colorado 80224 Recitation of the Rosary will be Sunday, June 18, 2017, 3:00 pm, at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado 80003. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, June 19, 2017, 11:00 am, Spirit of Christ Catholic Church, 7400 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado 80003. Please share your memories of Kathleen and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.