Thomas and Catherine Kisak

Thomas & Catherine Kisak
August 1, 1932 - June 29, 2020 & March 1, 1940 - April 10, 2022
Concord
It is with immense sadness that the children of Thomas and Catherine Kisak announce that our parents have entered into eternal rest. As the last survivors of their immediate blood families, they were preceded in death by their respective parents and siblings.
Thomas was born August 1, 1932, to Vid and Barbara Kisak of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. The fourth of five children, Tom forged his own path, his own way. Graduating from Connelley Trade School as a carpenter, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and completed his tour of duty in Fairbanks, Alaska. Returning home to Pennsylvania after, he retrained as an accountant through the Robert Morris Business School, courtesy of the G.I. Bill. Always a music enthusiast, Tom sang in the Croatian choir at Jadran and played the Tamburitza with his cronies throughout the greater Pittsburgh area before he married. This was his passion and what led him to his lifelong partner, our Mother.
Catherine was born March 1, 1940, to Phillip and Anna Popovich of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. The second of two children, Kaye marched to the beat of her own drum, always. A graduate of Aliquippa High School, she pursued her love of sewing and honed her skills in fashion and millinery in a dress designing school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There she learned a lifetime's worth of skills to compliment her already impressive talents and breadth of creativity. After completing her course of study, she put her talents to use working alongside a tailor in a local men's clothing store. A passionate but shy singer, Kaye sang in the Croatian choir at Javor. When she wasn't singing, she could be found perfecting her Kolo dancing. It was her confidence in her dancing skills and her abilities in schooling others on the intricate steps that led her to her lifelong partner, our Father.
While Tom and Kaye's story began through their love of music and dance, it was ultimately cemented by their deep appreciation of Croatian culture. Engaged after only one year of courtship, Tom and Kaye married, beginning 57 years together in September of 1962. During that lifetime, they uprooted and moved from Pennsylvania to New York, finally settling in California in 1972. Along the way, they grew their family with four children: Anna, Matthew, Stephanie and Nicole.
At many times throughout the years, their life was difficult; there was no proverbial silver spoon and nothing came easy to them without a lot of hard work, except for their strong faith in God and each other, their strong sense of family, and their over abundance of unconditional love for each of their children. No matter the situation, Dad and Mom made sure we lived well, but within our means. We never once knew of their struggles because there was always plenty of good, homemade food to eat, clean and well tailored clothes to wear, and a warm, safe and secure home to grow up in or return to.
As their children grew and began their own lives, Tom and Kaye found new hobbies to enjoy, a new choir to join, new friendships in church, and new faces to take delight in – their grandchildren. Always giving of their time and spirit, and full of support, forgiveness and love for all, no matter the circumstance, Tom and Kaye remained a beacon of strength for their family until the very end of their lives. As their twilight years encroached, they spent more time together watching TV and movies, debating politics, and worrying still about each of their children daily. Since nothing escaped them, there was always plenty of good advice waiting.
Satisfied that his work here on earth was done, God called on Thomas Peter Kisak to join the bass section of the choir of angels for our Lord in heaven on June 29, 2020. Not wanting to spend a minute more without him, Catherine Marie Kisak joined the soprano section of the same choir on April 10, 2022 – just a short twenty one months later. Never forgotten and always remembered, your children pray that you are joined together again and are happy. May the Lord bless and keep you both, be gracious to you always, and grant you eternal rest.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas and Catherine Kisak will be held at St. Agnes Church in Concord, California on Friday, May 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM. A private interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette, California. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made on their behalf to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana.


View the online memorial for Thomas & Catherine Kisak