Katherine (Kathy) Mary O’Keefe, 73, died in her sleep in her home in San Clemente, California on Sunday, December 2nd of Leukemia. Born May 7, 1940 in Los Angeles, she is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Katherine Hommes of Culver City, California and her son-in-law Michael Forster.
Kathy was an adored and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many. She loved the ocean and spent her time between her beach homes in San Clemente, Hawaii and Balboa Island. She was most happy swimming with family and friends in the beautiful clear blue waters in the front of her home in Laie, Oahu.
Kathy was born and raised in Culver City, California and enjoyed her career working for top architects in Los Angeles for many years. She raised her three children in Hermosa Beach and later moved to San Clemente where she married the love of her life, Tom O’Keefe. Her best life memories were of traveling the world with her husband, enjoying the beach lifestyle with her family, and doting on her grandchildren.
Kathy is survived by her beloved husband, Thomas O’Keefe; her siblings and their spouses Nancy and Doyle Harris, Jim and Patti Hommes, Joanne and Fred Balak; her three children Christopher Gonzalez, Joanne Forster, and Gregory Gonzalez; her daughter-in-law, Susan Gonzalez; her three step-children and their spouses, Thomas and Wendy O’Keefe, Jerome and Gina O’Keefe, and Tricia O’Keefe and Andy Smakula; her grandchildren Elise, Mitchell, Matthew, Lilia and Chloe Gonzalez, Colin, MollyJo and Finnegan Forster; Jack Bauccio, Katie, Luki, Megan and Logan O’Keefe.
Memorial services will be held Friday, December 7, 2012, 10:30 am at St. Edwards Church, Dana Point. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Stanford University Medical Center for the Dr. Bruno Medeiros Cancer Research Fund in honor of Kathy O’Keefe. It was also Kathy’s wish that her friends and family give blood to the American Red Cross, as donated blood was what kept her alive for over two years.