Kathleen Sue Nunez

Kathleen Sue Nunez, loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, passed away July 26 after a 10 year battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by the people she loved most, her family, in the place she loved most, her home in Corona, California. She is survived by her husband, Frank; sons Daniel and Alexander, siblings Deborah, Laurie and Frank and her parents Richard and Geraldine Peterson. Kathleen was born in San Pedro, California on March 7, 1957 and was raised in Westminster, California. She lived in Indian Village and went to Finley Elementary and Johnson Jr. High School and graduated from Westminster High School in 1975 where she was a member of the Flag Bearers, a school flag squad drill team. Growing up Kathy played girls Bobby Sox softball. After graduating she worked at Kmart in Huntington Beach where she met her husband Frank. They dated for a year, broke up for a year, and then dated again until they married in 1982. In 1985 their first son Daniel was born and in 1988 their second son, Alexander was born. They lived in Yorba Linda for six years until they moved to Corona, California. Kathy was a fierce advocate and a passionate activist for her children; in other words she was a loving dedicated mother. Nothing in her life gave her more pleasure and more pride than watching her children grow into good honest, caring men. Kathy also loved her two Bouvier der Flanders dogs: first Blaze and then Bailey. They brought her much joy, Bailey especially so as her disease progressed. Kathy was also a loyal and generous friend, maintaining friendships from grade school and high school. Kathy expressed her spirit most through acts of kindness and giving. She loved not only her children but all children. During the holidays she would always invite the younger neighborhood children into her kitchen to make Christmas cookies. Kathy showed her love best by cooking. She was very adventurous in the kitchen always trying new recipes which were quite phenomenal. The neighbors called her the Julia Childs of Chadwick road. She loved to talk to and with her friends, neighbors and family. My, how she could talk and always did so with her hands in rapid motion trying to keep up with her words. She became known as “chatty Kathy”. She was always helping someone with something be it a sibling, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor or even a stray cow wandering lost on a roadway. Kathy always wanted to help others. She always placed others before herself. Her kindness knew no bounds and it seemed that no matter how badly some people might have treated her, she always found a kind word for them. Was she perfect? Far from it, but she was perfect in all her beautiful, sometimes frustrating imperfections. When she first found out she had breast cancer she was determined to become physically strong in order to fight it. She worked out twice a week, hiked whenever she could at Peters Canyon in Tustin and Skyline Drive in Corona. She took kickboxing and water aerobics and basically became a stud! And she was courageous, tough and always positive in her approach to her illness. In a world where the word “courage” has become cheapened, she truly lived out the highest standard of that quality as she fought this dreaded disease daily for the last three years. Through it all her husband of 33 years, Frank supported and encouraged her and loved her completely. She has truly earned her rest in the bright, eternal and perfect love of her Creator and Savior. The greatest blessing God gives is nearness to him, through Jesus Christ. For this we are grateful because Kathleen grew closer to God every day. We saw it in her face, we heard it in her voice; we KNEW it by the peace she expressed daily about her plight. Kathys earthly life has been one of faithful Christian service to others, though neither she nor they may have known it. She is the reason her husband and my sons are Catholics. She is the reason they have become so much nearer to God. We know that she is in heaven and when she got there God smiled at her and said “On behalf of a grateful world, we welcome you to paradise. Well done my good and faithful servant.” Services will be held Friday, August 7 at 11:00 am at St. Matthews Catholic Church, 2140 W Ontario Ave, Corona, CA 92882. In lieu of flowers her family asks that you make donations in Kathleens memory to St Josephs Hospital of Orange at the following URL: https://donate.sjo.org/ Service St. Matthew Catholic Church 2140 W. Ontario Ave. Corona, CA 92882 951-737-1621 | Friday 8/7, 11:00 am