Katherine Ann Barrera

Katherine Ann Barrera was a wife, a mother, and a nurse. She was born in Austria-Hungary in a small town on 14 October 1922, to Karl and Elizabeth Kaufmann. The family immigrated to Windsor, Canada when she was a child. When she graduated high school she entered nursing school and found her calling in life. After she graduated, she met Louis E Barrera, a resident of New York City. They were married in 1950, and she moved to New York. There she worked as a nurse until the couple decided to start a family. They moved to Montebello, California in 1959. In 1960 she had a son, Louis K. Barrera. After the child started pre-school, she went to work for Beverly Hospital. She remained working at Beverly Hospital until she retired in the late 90's. For her entire career she was active with health care in the area, working not only at Beverly Hospital, but with organizations like the Red Cross, the Heart Association, and APIC. She taught CPR to the local fire departments, paramedics, and a few members of the Montebello police department. In 2003 she lost her husband to heart disease. Soon after that she was diagnosed with Lewy Body Syndrome. In 2007 she relocated to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to be near her son. Even while she herself was in an assisted living facility, she worked with the care givers there, providing suggestions and pointers on how to more effectively perform their jobs. In 2009 she became a grandmother when her son married. Through the generosity and love that has always defined her; Katherine embraced, nurtured, and encouraged not only a new daughter in law but two teenage grandchildren. While her passion and support sustained them all, it was her unconditional love that so profoundly impacted their lives. This was particularly true in the case of Katherine's new grandson, Brandon, who reveled in her admiration, approval and support. While the last year of her life was difficult, she always perked up when her grandchildren would visit. She passed away peacefully on 3 October 2012, leaving behind her son Louis, his wife Elise, two grandchildren Brittany and Brandon, her close friend Betty Genino, her goddaughter Mary Genino, her brother Karl, her sister-in-law Joyce, many nieces and nephews, and countless others whose lives she touched. She lived a very blessed life.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart of Mary Chapel, 441 N. Garfield Ave, Montebello, with brunch in the adjacent reception hall following the service. Interment will be for the family only at Rose Hills Memorial Park.

Donations may be made to the USC Alzheimer Disease Research Center, USC Memory and Aging Center, HCCII, Suite 3000, 1520 San Pablo St, Los Angeles CA 90033. The contact person is Nadine Diaz, 323-442-7600, e-mail - gsc@usc.edu .

Condolences may be sent to the family through our web site.