Katherine Anne Onstad

Family-Placed Obituary

Katherine Anne Onstad's spirit departed her little body, at 9:45 p.m. on August 30, 2004. Her passage was graceful and gentle. Katherine began life on earth on May 27, 1977. Barbara Onstad and Rockne Onstad were fortunate to be her parents. On November 28, 1978, she was joined by her beautiful little sister, Whitney Onstad. Katherine and Whitney, along with Catherine Campbell, spent their magical childhood together in the 2300 block of Tangley Road in Houston, Texas. They began school together at Southhampton Montessori, then went on to Annunciation Greek Orthodox School. Katherine then attended River Oaks Baptist School, Lanier Middle School, and Lamar High School. By then Katherine was excelling in snow skiing, water skiing, and competing in hunter/jumper competition with her favorite horse, Northern Spy. Katherine was diagnosed with a Ewing Sarcoma in the spring of 1993, and after chemotherapy and radiation at M.D. Anderson and multiple surgeries at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, Katherine was declared to be cancer free, but not without the heavy price of addiction to the pain medicine it took to endure the radical surgeries. In 1994, she moved to Lake Travis with her family. She got her GED and completed two years of classes at Austin Community College, all while fighting to recover from the hell of addiction. She gave birth to a beautiful son, Gunnar Onstad, on October 26, 1998, and was a wonderful mother. Katherine achieved sustained sobriety by living and working the 12 steps. She had her finest days at Burning Tree Recovery Ranch in Kaufmann, Texas, where she truly was loved and where she learned to love her self. At ``The Ranch' she discovered the gift that she is: ``a mountain of love with arms and legs.' From that moment on, she gave her gift away to everyone who got near her. Sober and free, and while helping others achieve and maintain sobriety - she was again struck with cancer. On May 5, 2004, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, which had spread to all parts of her body. Until two days before her letting go, she sponsored others, attended meetings, and established a new meeting place in her community so others could achieve and maintain sobriety. She inspired others with her courage, tenacity, and her love. She never asked for anything for herself. She was reaching out to love others in the 12 steps and the 12 traditions until her last day. Katherine danced through life on the skinny branches. She brought joy to many. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in the name of Katherine Onstad to Austin Recovery Center, 8402 Cross Park Drive, Austin, Texas 78754 (Attention: Judy Haney) 512-997-0101. Arrangements by Weed-Corley- Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705 - (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at wcfish.com