Catherine Owens

1942 - 2020

Catherine Owens
December 25, 2020
Overland Park, Kansas - Catherine Regina Owens died on Christmas morning at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. Unfortunately, funeral services are not open to the public however they can be viewed via livestream on Thursday December 31, 2020 at 9:00 AM at facebook.com/queenoftheholyrosary or http://www.queenoftheholyrosary.org.
She was born in Philadelphia, PA on April 1, 1942, to Edward and Catherine Butler. She moved with her parents as a young child to Denver, CO and then to Kansas City, MO where she grew up with her two younger sisters and younger brother. She attended St. James grade school and St. Teresa's Academy, graduating in 1959. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Avila College in 1963.
On June 22, 1963, Cathy married Thomas Owens at St. James Catholic church and started their life together in the hopes of having a large family. She often shared with people that when dating Tom she told him that she wanted a minimum of 10 kids. They made their home in Overland Park, where they were active members of Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, and where they raised 12 children. Cathy stayed home with the children during the early years of the marriage. She was active in school activities and as a room mother for many years. She took immense pride in caring for everyone she met, whether it be providing meals for families in need, donations of food to the church or money to a cause. There wasn't a birthday for a family member or friend that she didn't decorate a beautiful cake for or a holiday that she didn't provide toys or matching outfits for the grandkids. When the older kids became teenagers, Cathy worked two days per week as an RN at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kansas City. She retired in 2005, after 25 years of service. She treasured her friendships with her classmates from St. Teresa's Academy and colleagues from St. Joseph's through frequent lunches and get togethers.
Cathy was a devout and faithful Catholic, with a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother to lead her to Jesus. She loved the gathering of her family on Christmas Eve and Day so much that it makes her passing on Christmas morning bittersweet to her family and friends. Cathy was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Tommy, on November 29, 2020. She was also preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Ann Verhulst and Theresa Imming, brother Ed Butler (all to whom she was known as Jean) and three grandchildren, Nicole, Heather and Jackson. She leaves to mourn her passing her 12 children Tom Owens, Jr., Mike (Jennifer) Owens, Lisa (Myles) Gartland, Pam (David) MacCallum, Patrick (Jennifer) Owens, Brian (Renee) Owens, Megan (Rodney) Ratzlaff, Barry (Chris) Owens, Tim (Danielle) Owens, Laura (Scott) Kloiber, Bob (Jennifer) Owens, Terry (Natalie) Owens and her beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, Séamus. She is also survived by her 27 grandchildren who she adored: Shawn, Stephen, Jacob, Josie, Andrew, Ben, Natalie, Abbie, Trey, Marty, Max, Elliot, Lindsey, Joey, Christopher, Aubrey, Alexa, Liam, Maggie, Scotty, Chloe, Caylee, Courtney, Olivia, Riley, Alex and Ana, and her great-grandson, Milo. She also leaves brothers-in-law, Gary Imming, Allan Verhulst, Bill (Donna) Owens and James (Linda) Owens, sister-in-law, Patty Butler and a host of nieces and nephews.