Katherine Serila Fernandez Kangas Elliot Obituary (1948 - 2007)

Katherine Serila Fernandez Kangas Elliott, 58, our loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed peacefully from this life to begin a new adventure on Saturday January 20, 2007 after a long battle with liver disease brought on by diabetes. Kathy was the twelfth of thirteen children born to Margaret Vigil and John Anthony Fernandez, Sr. in Gunnison, Colorado on June 9, 1948. Growing up in Salt Lake City she attended East High. She married James D. Kangas December 23, 1968. Together they had three children. They were later divorced. Kathy was an adventurous spirit who touched everyone’s life that she came in contact with. She was the neighborhood grandma and although she had only six grandchildren from her children, she had numerous “adopted” grandchildren that she loved like her own. Everything she did in life was for her children. They were her life and she was so proud of them that she never quit bragging about their every achievement. Kathy loved to travel and later in life had the opportunity to travel the southeast U.S with her oldest daughter, visit Japan with her youngest daughter and later travel to Bosnia, Croatia, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland with her son. She loved the outdoors. Fishing, camping, and hiking were a few of her favorite things to do. Every year she would make the trek around the Alpine Loop in the Fall to enjoy the burst of color that always took her breath away. She found beauty everywhere in nature and often drew and painted what she saw. She loved to collect multi colored leaves in the Fall and fresh flowers in the Spring. Kathy was everything to her grandchildren and they were everything to her. She never let a dollar sit in her pocket because she wanted to give them everything. Kathy was a very generous soul and sought to give to those who didn’t have. She never forgot the generosity of strangers that she received for her and her children when she was a single parent. Words will never be able to convey the love her family and friends had for her. She will never be forgotten. Kathy is survived by her oldest daughter Racheall (Doug) Martin, her son James (Torie) Kangas, her youngest daughter Kristina (Johnie) Davis; her grandchildren: Tony, Cody, Olivia, Isabella, Megyn, Austin; her “adopted” grandchildren: Maria, Rosie, Jose, Roberto, Yolanda, Marcos, and Kaylyn; her sisters: Julia Strohl, Lorraine Vogan, Mae Fernandez, Gloria (Gene) Holt, and Rose (Scott) Jeffrey, her brothers: Frank (Nancy) Fernandez, Bob (Liz) Fernandez, and Ray (Peg) Fernandez, numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. Proceeded in death by her parents, brothers: Franklin Aaron, John Anthony, Jr., and Mike, and sister: Josephine Myrick. A special thank you to Willow Creek Hospice, Dr. Zackrison and Dr. Buchi. The family would like to extend their appreciation to Alan and Kim for being good listeners to Kathy. A special thank you to Nathan Collins and Don Lloyd for Kathy’s blessing. Adios mom! We will always love you!!!! A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday January 24, 2007 at 4:00PM at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary (4760 S State St, Murray, UT).