Kathryn Catena Wilbanks DeWine

1942 - 2021

Kathryn Catena Wilbanks DeWine

Knoxville - Kathryn Catena Wilbanks DeWine passed away peacefully at Parkwest hospital surrounded by her children early in the morning July 15, 2021, which would have been her husband's 80th birthday. They are now together again resting in the eternal peace of God's heavenly kingdom. She was born on October 23, 1942 in Dalton, Georgia and grew up there among lifelong friends until she was a Freshman in high school when her mother moved them to Decatur, Georgia in 1956. She attended Sacred Heart school before transferring to the brand new Pius X High School where she graduated in 1960. Kathy went on to Sacred Heart College in Cullman, AL where she met her husband, Larry DeWine. They were married September 2, 1963 at Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta, Georgia. They were married for 54 years before he passed away in the summer of 2018.

Kathy lived a life that radiated undeniable faith, contagious joy and a profound freedom rooted in her complete trust in the promises of her savior, Jesus Christ. Her faith was a lifelong work in progress always grounded in prayer, scripture, and personal relationships. She sought out God's message in every phase of life and strived to be His faithful servant. She had a thirst for knowledge and returned to college in 1985. She earned her BA in English from the University of Tennessee (Summa Cum Laude) and went on to complete a Masters Degree in Theology and Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University in New Orleans. Kathy's faith was nurtured through contemplative prayer, active study and of course her writing. She entered the Carmelite religious community in 2004 and made her definitive promise as a secular Carmelite in 2009, serving as President from 2009-2014. She served her God and community on the Provincial Council for two years until her health began to decline. She remained active in her Carmelite family and through her spiritual journey she brought so many others closer to Christ.

Kathy was Catholic to her very core and she absolutely loved the Church. Her very life, from the food she ate, to the clothes she wore, to the gifts she gave, to the daily routine she kept, to the choices she made flowed out of her life lived in rhythm with the Church. All who met her knew this about her. She was a wordsmith first and foremost and her passion for words flowed from the books she read but even more importantly to the letters, more commonly known to their recipients as "epistles", that she wrote. Her ability to craft wisdom, theology, spirituality or the very message that you just needed to hear, into words that touched your soul were quite possibly her greatest gift wrapped in the most beautiful handwriting and sent with the deepest love. If she ever wrote you a letter, it is very likely that you still have it and treasure it. She delighted in very simple things and preferred a really good conversation over a cup of tea to just about anything outside of prayer. Although her death is sudden, surprising and deeply painful to those of us who love her most, and are so honored and humbled to be her closest loved ones, we believe that she is doing far more for us now through her prayers in heaven than she could have continued to do for us on earth. She lived every moment of her life with joy and anticipation of her eternal life and we pray that her soul can finally rest in peace.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John Henry Wilbanks and Maria Catena Wilbanks, and by her husband Larry DeWine, and her siblings John Wilbanks and Mary Wilbanks Lohre. She is survived by her children, Jennifer DeWine Borek (Brian), John William DeWine II (Vanna), Kathryn DeWine Perry (David), and David Bradley DeWine (Mary Susan), and 10 grandchildren Robert, Patrick, Brianna and Carrie Anne DeWine, Natalie, Elisabeth, Davis and Duncan Perry, and Jonah and Nina DeWine as well as a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren.

A funeral mass is planned for Kathy on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 10 am at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bishop Vann Johnston celebrating. There will be a Receiving of Friends at Rose Funeral and Cremation - Mann on Kingston Pike Monday, July 19 from 4-7 pm with a rosary to immediately follow at 7. She loved flowers but she loved people more, so if you are inclined to make a gesture of condolence please consider making a memorial donation to The Ladies of Charity, 120 W. Baxter Ave Knoxville, TN 37917. The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mitzi Stiner, Tonya Chandler, Gina Berry and all the caregivers and staff at Deane Hill Place for taking such good care of her for the past three years. We would also like to thank the dedicated and compassionate doctors, nurses and medical staff who cared for her physical and mental health over the past several years. We offer special thanks and gratitude to Dr. Udit Chaudhuri, Dr. Anthony Charles, Dr. Keith Hulse, Dr Paul Branca and the wonderful doctors, nurses and CCU staff at Parkwest Hospital. You treated our mother with a level of respect, dignity and compassion she would have admired. You are each answering a call that is most difficult and beautiful at the same time. God bless you!