Catherine (Kay, Katie)'s Obituary
Mom peacefully joined the choir of angels in heaven, Thursday morning, October 17th. She was 83. Second oldest of a Wisconsin farm family, she came to Tacoma in the early days of World War II, where she met the soldier/accountant who was to become her husband. After a 31 year marriage, Robert (Pop, Bob) passed away in 1975. Together they had owned and operated SpencerÂ's Hardware and Building Supplies on Custer Road in Lakewood for twenty-two years. Mom continued to run the store for several more years before retiring in 1979. In retirement Mom freely gave her time and talents raising funds to support Visitation Catholic School and through other community-building activities for Visitation Parish.She is survived by her children James (and Kathy) Spencer of Steilacoom, Roberta (and Eric) Mettler-Stern of Tacoma, and John (and Brian) Spencer of Newport Beach California, by her sister Marcela (and Bo) Kalning of Tacoma, and six other living siblings in Wisconsin and Minnesota. MomÂ's family also includes five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by her family, hundreds of friends and co-workers at Visitation, and by the wonderful caregivers at St. Therese Adult Family Home, where she spent her last few years.Viewing of the body will be Sunday at Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood, Sunday from 2 Â- 7pm. A Rosary will be said at Visitation Church, 3314 S. 58th St. Tacoma, WA, at 7pm Monday evening and a funeral mass will be celebrated there Tuesday at 11am. Burial service at Calvary Cemetery, 5212 70th St. West, Tacoma, WA, next to Pop, is scheduled for 1:30. Memorials may be sent to Visitation Catholic School and St. Therese Adult Family Home.
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