Katherine Ann Gibbons

Katherine was born in Manhattan, New York, to Joseph Turek and Marie Kocarnik on November 6, 1942. Her family immigrated to New York from The Czech Republic approximately four generations, prior to her birth. She lived on the upper east side of Manhattan and attended Julia Richmond High School (Manhattan) and Suffolk County Community Collège (Long Island) in New York. She married Joseph Edward Gibbons in August of 1964 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Manhattan, New York. Kathy and Joseph had two sons Kevin and Daniel Gibbons. They lived in the Bronx for a period of time and were the Supers of an apartment building. They then moved to Long Island New York. Kathy was a stay-at-home Mom while the boys were young. She was a devoted mother and always kept up with what was going on in her children’s lives. She was their friend and their Mom. She participated in bowling leagues and neighborhood Mahjong games in Long Island and loved spending time with family. Joseph and Kathy later divorced, but they remained wonderful friends. Once the boys were grown, she began her career outside of the home working as a nursing staff clerk for the State University of Stonybrook, Family Medicine Department in Long Island, New York, for twenty years. She brightened everyone’s days at work, with her colorful headbands, her unique jewelry and her awesome Halloween costumes! She loved driving, and even had a Corvette at one point. Kathy was always Kool!

After she retired, she relocated to Tampa Florida, where her sons and brother lived along with their families. She was very involved with her church, St. Marks Episcopal in Tampa, Florida, where she attended mass regularly, and participated in bible study groups, book clubs and retreats. Although she converted to the Episcopal church later in life, from Catholicism, she loved to watch Pope Francis on EWTN and made it possible for her grandchildren to attend Catholic school. She also enjoyed music, movies, reading, trivia and art. She watched sports and recently she caught up on all of the Marvel movies. She kept up with current events and knew her trivia. She was extremely close to her siblings, George and Barbara. They played computer games together ever morning. Her greatest joy was being a mother to her sons Kevin & Dan, and being a grandmother to Joshua and Matthew. Kathy was also a wonderful mother-in-law. She was a constant source of strength, joy and support for the entire family. She was a spiritual and vibrant individual, who lived on her own terms and knew exactly what she wanted. She was a role model and an inspiration and we are all blessed to have had her in our lives. She will be missed dearly, but never forgotten.

Katherine is preceded in death by both of her parents.

Katherine is survived by her son & daughter-in-law, Kevin and Samantha Gibbons; her son, Daniel Gibbons; her brother, George Turek; her sister Barbara Turek; her grandchildren, Joshua and Matthew Gibbons; her sister-in-law Patricia Turek; her nieces Geanine Comaianni, Kathleen Green, Maureen Bergin; her nephews Greg Turek, John W. Bergin, and Brian Bergin; her grandniece, Patricia Comaianni; and grandnephew, Joseph Green.

Special thanks to nephew-in-law Girolamo Comaianni and the Comaianni family, her friend and fellow mother-in-law, Paula Williams, the Mantri family, her friends, Lorrie Wiese, Linda, Joan Brey, Louise Gutierrez, Chris Puleo, and all of her beloved friends and family; The Reverend Robert C. Douglas and the congregation of St. Marks Episcopal Church, her friend and Caregiver Maria Bracho, Maria Krus, the Franciscan Center, the Rambaran family, Joseph Gibbons and the Gibbons family.

Visitation and Reception will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 25th at Blount and Curry Funeral Home located at 6802 Silvermill Drive, Tampa, Florida 33635.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm at Blount and Curry Funeral Home Oldsmar West, Hillsborough Chapel, with Fr. Robert Douglas of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church at 13312 Cain Rd, Tampa, FL 33625 (Phone: (813) 962-3089).

The family of Kathy Gibbons wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at St. Joseph’s North, Seasons Hospice, Rev. Bob Douglas and his wife and the congregation of St. Marks Episcopal Church, Sister Mary Jackson and the faculty and staff of Villa Madonna School, Westwood Reserves, Brighton Gardens and Northdale Réhabilitation and funeral director Maria Stone and the staff of Dignity Memorial/Blount and Curry Funeral Homes, for all of their time and hard work to make this memorial service possible.