Katherine Margaret Custer

Katherine Margaret Custer (affectionately known as Kathy to all), 62, of Annapolis, Maryland passed away peacefully, at home, on December 29th, 2022 after a valiant nine-year battle with cancer. Kathy was surrounded by her family, friends, and closest loved ones in her last days and up to the moment she passed away. Kathy was born in Washington DC and grew up in Silver Spring and Annapolis. She was a graduate of Severna Park High School and worked for Navy Federal Credit Union, where she retired as an Executive in Branch Operations and was the recipient of several prestigious awards. Kathy was admired and respected as a leader and mentor to countless Navy Federal employees and made a positive impression for her professional demeanor and skilled solutions focused management style throughout her career. Kathy was, most importantly, a loving and dedicated spouse and mother. She always remarked that despite any outside responsibilities, her family came first and foremost. She demonstrated that affection and commitment in countless ways, but most specifically and selflessly, by the devoted care and support provided to her husband of 29 years, John Custer Sr, through his 11-year battle with ALS. She never wavered in her love and commitment to her husband and she fought, nonstop for him in the face of insurmountable obstacles. Prior to his illness, John Sr. and Kathy had an incredibly strong marriage that created many rich experiences, countless stories to pass down, and cherished memories for all who knew them. Their gregarious nature as a couple provided both with deep friendships that lasted for the duration of their lives. Kathy was a wonderful mother to her son, John Jr, throughout his entire life. Their relationship created a bond that cannot be severed, even in death. Kathy supported John Jr in all his endeavors, through the days of competitive soccer that required national travel, his educational pursuits at Towson University, and his journey to adulthood. Kathy guided John Jr. as he developed into a successful executive in medical device sales and most importantly as he became a husband and father of a beautiful family, which gave Kathy three grandchildren. After Kathy's husband passed, she eventually found love again with Frank Rawson. Frank was devoted to Kathy and made the selfless choice to stay with her, through her entire illness, despite having experienced his own wife's passing from cancer in the years before he met Kathy. They chose to make the most of their time despite knowing it was finite and enjoyed a lifetime's worth of memories in a decade. Kathy was preceded in death by her father and mother, Stanley and Jean Jones, and her husband John Charles Custer, Sr. She is survived by her son, John Jr; her daughter-in-law Lara; her grandchildren, Carlene, Vincent, and Christian; her brother Michael Jones; her brother-in-law Arthur Custer; sister-in- law Janet Temple; her niece Janet Helferstay; her godson Carlos Morales; John Jr's best friend Josh Reimer (affectionally, Son #2); her nephew Kevin Burke; beloved cousins Mike and Maria Lane; and her partner Frank Rawson. Kathy will be dearly missed and always loved and remembered by all who knew her; the world lost a truly kind, generous, and loving soul when she left us for heaven. Kathy requested a celebration of life be held in her honor for family and friends to attend. We ask all of Kathy's loved ones to join us in celebrating her beautiful life at Barranco Funeral Home on March 4th, 2023. Visitation will be from 9:00AM to 11:00AM with an 11:00AM Memorial Service to follow. There will be a gathering at Brian Boru Irish Restaurant, after the services conclude for all family and friends that wish to attend. A private Mass of Christian Burial, for immediate family, will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Boxer Rescue of Grafton, MA (https://theboxerrescue.org/).