Catalina Richard-Carabajal

Catalina Richard-Carabajal ("Kate") passed away unexpectedly of heart failure on January 27, 2025. The second daughter of Farley and Viola Richard, she was welcomed to her family on June 21, 1952. As a child, Kate loved fun and mischief and led her three sisters to many experiences, including teaching them how to dance and make life fun. Her Mom and Dad enrolled her in tap dance, acrobat and ballet when she was very young, but she gave it up in favor of rock and roll.
Kate graduated from San Mateo High School, which she attended with her younger sister Janet and quickly became a mentor to her, introducing her to her friends, her fondness of Bay Area bands, and adventures in San Francisco and the beach on their days off. Her love of fun and new experiences led her to the many diverse people and places she encountered throughout her life.
She continued her education at College of San Mateo and entered the world of radio broadcasting, but eventually left that field to work for non-profits and then pursued a degree in Social Work at San Francisco State University. During this time, she raised two daughters as a single mother. She later obtained her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley.
Kate's career in Social Work led her to work at various San Francisco Bay Area hospitals, as well as serving as a government contractor with the federal government. She traveled to the Azores, Valencia, Italy and other countries as well as to Nevada, the Midwest, Hawaii and other states, counseling our military members. She received a Patriotic Civilian Award for driving through snowstorms in Minnesota to reach clients. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she had her own business and helped many people over the years.
She enjoyed traveling, especially to Latin countries, as she learned to speak fluent Spanish. Kate traveled to Cuba to learn Latin dance, and to Spain and Mexico and back to Hawaii in her later life.
Kate was an avid gardener and was proud of her many plants that flourished under her care. But her greatest joy that brought her happiness were her two daughters, Gia and Heshla, and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters, Gia Brack (Charles), Heshla George (Charles) and grandchildren, Viviana Ortiz, Sergio Ortiz, Mia Madrid, Naomi Brack, and Eliseo Brack, as well as sisters, Carole Richard, Janet Moreno and Nancy Richard, a niece, Joelle Faught (Stacy) and nephew, Jacob Roche and great nephew, Kerry Faught, and her pet Maltese, Billie.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Farley and Viola Richard, and her cherished Havanese dog, Paz.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, www.4hcm.org, at 66 Ford Road, Ste. 213B, Danville, N.J., 07834, or the American Heart Association, www.heart.org. ###