Kathren Martz

May 2, 1938 - Sept. 29, 2004

Kathren Martz, of Vacaville, died Sept. 29, 2004. She is survived by her beloved husband and best friend, Fred Martz, to whom she was married for more than 40 happy years. She was born May 2, 1938, on a homestead near Max, N.D., to Tena Kapusta (nee Remarenko) and Philip Kapusta, immigrants from Ukraine during the Lenin famines. Kathren is survived by her brother, George Kapusta, and his wife, Karen, of Carbondale, Ill.; and nephews and nieces. Preceding her in death are one sister, Nettie Holmen of Powers Lake, N.D.; her brothers, Peter Kapusta of Arlington, Va., and Alvin Kapusta of Silver Spring, Md.; and a nephew, Curtis Holmen of Missoula, Mont. Also preceding her in death are a number of nieces and nephews, including Timothy Holmen of Dayton, Ohio; Thena Holmen of San Francisco; Dwight Holmen of Velva, N.D.; Daniel Kapusta of New Orleans; Deborah Kapusta of Carbondale, Ill.; Lynnette Wright of Tucson, Ariz.; and Brenda Cstalos of Houston, Texas; as well as several grandnieces and a grandnephew.

She, along with thousands of other women, have died both early and late deaths despite a full course of current therapy for metastatic breast cancer. Kathren suffered from advanced breast cancer with metastasis to the liver. She survived 30 months from the first date of diagnosis.

Growing up in rural North Dakota, choices for careers were limited, but Kathren made a fortunate choice to become a registered nurse, graduating from the Trinity Hospital School of Nursing in Minot, N.D., in 1954. From there, she practiced in a variety of fields, including cardiovascular nursing at the Universities of Minnesota and California, where she became nationally known for her innovative practice and teaching techniques. She continued her academic studies, obtaining a bachelor's degree from the University of San Francisco and a master's degree from the University of California, San Francisco. Kathren then shifted to nursing administration, including a lengthy, productive and happy career at Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers. She retired in 1999 to spend more time with her beloved husband, Fred, but that endeavor was cut short by her illness. During her last months, Fred tenderly cared for her and they continued to share the joy of a long married life.

All in all, a good life.

There will be no ceremony.

Arrangements were handled by the Neptune Society.

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