Catherine Amanda Valdez
March 27, 1955 — May 27, 2013
Catherine Amanda Valdez, 58, was born in Los Angeles, Ca. on March 27, 1955 and raised in Montebello, Ca. She passed away in Fullerton, Ca. on May 27, 2013. Cathy was the third oldest child of Salvador and Bertha Valdez's five children. She was previously employed as a Medical Secretary at Suburban Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 11:00am at the Risher Montebello Mortuary Chapel and a Prayer Service will be at 11:30am the same day. Interment will be private.
She is survived by her siblings, Steve (Lynette) Valdez of Placentia, Tony (Michelle) Valdez of Bakersfield, Robert Valdez of Yorba Linda and Christine Valdez of Whittier. She also leaves her nieces, Andrea Valdez (Chris) Choi of London and Erica Valdez of Berkeley and her nephews, Ryan Valdez of Belmont Shore, Casey Valdez of Placentia and Andrew Valdez of San Francisco and her great nephews, Nathan Choi of London.
Words from her family:
There are no words to deal with our pain, and there are no words to describe our sister but we will try and do justice to her character, strength, beauty, love, and zeal to live.
We begin Cathy's story with our parents who raised us to understand the importance of working towards a passion for life, and to try and find our inner-strength. Thus, they gave Cathy both a remarkable strength and perseverance to deal with her health challenges. She faced incredible circumstances in dealing with her diabetes and its many complications over 44 years, including renal failure with dialysis for 15 years. On top of that, she had to deal with breast cancer. It is a tribute to both of them that Cathy had the strength, the hope, and an unfathomable will to live through all of that.
Because of the diabetic complications affecting her intestines, Cathy struggled with the simple act of eating a meal. Something we take for granted every day, but she did it. Her strength and her passion for life we all witnessed and we will learn from it.
Cathy started as an enthusiastic, fun-loving, very self-confident, happy child, very popular with and always surrounded by friends at St. Benedict's. She was one of the most popular girls in her class. She loved the ocean and vacationing and was happiest when she was visiting with people.
She developed Type 1 "juvenile" diabetes at the young age of 13 and, like many before her, had a difficult time adjusting to this all-encompassing illness. This restricted her food choices, placed increased sleep demands, and greatly increased her medication requirements including multiple daily insulin-injections. Her self confidence was shaken, and her fun-loving nature was taken.
Cathy loved animals, and loved the outdoors. She was a good daughter, and sister, and especially loved her nieces and nephews, and always cherished her time spent with them, and all her family and friends. She was the "favorite" aunt because of her love for children, her great sense of humor and her innocent childlike zeal for life.
Cathy achieved an AA-degree from East LA Junior College, and worked as an office secretary and was productively employed. She attempted nursing school but did not finish because of her illness, and the difficulty she had working with very ill children while connecting with them personally.
The years passed with her sickness worsening, and after 45 years with her illness she developed many of the disease complications. Her life was significantly impaired from these complications, and she was in-and-out of the hospital innumerable times, and many times faced death with her Intensive-Care stays. She required full-CPR on at least 3 occasions yet she was very determined to recover from these episodes. Despite her set-backs she had a tremendous will to live, and a never-say-die mindset to go on.
When Cathy experienced our mother's death in November 2011, she had a very difficult time dealing with this loss. They had lived together and were best friends. As a family, it was difficult to put Cathy in an Assisted Living facility but we understood how critical her health care was to her well-being.
Our sister suffered much more than one person should be made to bear in a lifetime. She is at rest now, and is home with her Mom and Dad, and now she'll have an easier go of things.
God bless her, and ease her way, as she is so deserving.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our web site.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 11:00am at the Risher Montebello Mortuary Chapel and a Prayer Service will be at 11:30am the same day. Interment will be private.
She is survived by her siblings, Steve (Lynette) Valdez of Placentia, Tony (Michelle) Valdez of Bakersfield, Robert Valdez of Yorba Linda and Christine Valdez of Whittier. She also leaves her nieces, Andrea Valdez (Chris) Choi of London and Erica Valdez of Berkeley and her nephews, Ryan Valdez of Belmont Shore, Casey Valdez of Placentia and Andrew Valdez of San Francisco and her great nephews, Nathan Choi of London.
Words from her family:
There are no words to deal with our pain, and there are no words to describe our sister but we will try and do justice to her character, strength, beauty, love, and zeal to live.
We begin Cathy's story with our parents who raised us to understand the importance of working towards a passion for life, and to try and find our inner-strength. Thus, they gave Cathy both a remarkable strength and perseverance to deal with her health challenges. She faced incredible circumstances in dealing with her diabetes and its many complications over 44 years, including renal failure with dialysis for 15 years. On top of that, she had to deal with breast cancer. It is a tribute to both of them that Cathy had the strength, the hope, and an unfathomable will to live through all of that.
Because of the diabetic complications affecting her intestines, Cathy struggled with the simple act of eating a meal. Something we take for granted every day, but she did it. Her strength and her passion for life we all witnessed and we will learn from it.
Cathy started as an enthusiastic, fun-loving, very self-confident, happy child, very popular with and always surrounded by friends at St. Benedict's. She was one of the most popular girls in her class. She loved the ocean and vacationing and was happiest when she was visiting with people.
She developed Type 1 "juvenile" diabetes at the young age of 13 and, like many before her, had a difficult time adjusting to this all-encompassing illness. This restricted her food choices, placed increased sleep demands, and greatly increased her medication requirements including multiple daily insulin-injections. Her self confidence was shaken, and her fun-loving nature was taken.
Cathy loved animals, and loved the outdoors. She was a good daughter, and sister, and especially loved her nieces and nephews, and always cherished her time spent with them, and all her family and friends. She was the "favorite" aunt because of her love for children, her great sense of humor and her innocent childlike zeal for life.
Cathy achieved an AA-degree from East LA Junior College, and worked as an office secretary and was productively employed. She attempted nursing school but did not finish because of her illness, and the difficulty she had working with very ill children while connecting with them personally.
The years passed with her sickness worsening, and after 45 years with her illness she developed many of the disease complications. Her life was significantly impaired from these complications, and she was in-and-out of the hospital innumerable times, and many times faced death with her Intensive-Care stays. She required full-CPR on at least 3 occasions yet she was very determined to recover from these episodes. Despite her set-backs she had a tremendous will to live, and a never-say-die mindset to go on.
When Cathy experienced our mother's death in November 2011, she had a very difficult time dealing with this loss. They had lived together and were best friends. As a family, it was difficult to put Cathy in an Assisted Living facility but we understood how critical her health care was to her well-being.
Our sister suffered much more than one person should be made to bear in a lifetime. She is at rest now, and is home with her Mom and Dad, and now she'll have an easier go of things.
God bless her, and ease her way, as she is so deserving.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our web site.
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