Katherine Creag Gafner

Katherine was born Maria Katherine Cassandra Creag in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines on December 26, 1973. She moved to Warsaw, Indiana at the age of five, then headed to Chicago for her final two years of high school. Katherine attended New York University and graduated with a Journalism degree in 1996.

Katherine’s career had stops that echoed her career growth: at NY1, Elmira, Syracuse, Charlotte, Dallas and then back to her beloved New York City. She most recently served as morning reporter at WNBC-TV in New York City since 2011. She loved waking up for the morning shift at 1 am and working in the field with her cherished media colleagues. She relished the room to roam by telling stories from an “outdoor office”. The woman who toted three bags to work filled with various hamburger coin purses, dinner leftovers, planners and tattered reporter notebooks wore many hats. Katherine’s infectious smile and empathetic heart were felt by those in the stories she covered for decades.

Katherine and her beloved Bill were married at the Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola on September 2, 2006 and danced the night away at their reception at Angel Orensanz Foundation space on the Lower East Side.

All who knew her knew the role she loved and treasured most was being mom to her children Jackson (13), Gemma (9) and Josephine (6). Despite awaking before sunrise for work, she had the tenacity and drive to spend the rest of the day with the people she adored most.

As hard as she worked, Katherine worked to enjoy life just as much. From being a Girl Scout troop leader, to having sunset drinks with all her multiple friend groups, she squeezed every drop out of the good times as she could - usually while listening to 90’s hip-hop music or New Kids on the Block. Cheerleading pyramids were her specialty and a fixture at every event. There is no shortage of people who are in awe that someone who woke up so early in the morning would be able to give details on what played on the “Hoarders” reality show, take her kids to various lacrosse, gymnastics or school events, and even hit a Taylor Swift concert - perhaps all in the same night!

Katherine is survived by her husband Bill, her son Jackson, and daughters Gemma and Josephine. She is also survived by her father Jose Valentino Creag. She was preceded in death by her mother Cecilia Cartago Creag. Katherine leaves behind numerous cousins, in-laws, family members and countless friends who will love her forever and never forget her humor, funny and contagious laugh, kindness, her magical smile and love for everyone.

You may pay your respects on Wednesday, February 17 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Avenue at 81st Street. A Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, February 18 at 10 am at Saint Ignatius Loyola Church, 980 Park Avenue at 84th Street. Due to New York State regulations on capacity because of COVID-19, please note the funeral mass will only allow 300 people.

All are invited to pay tribute in the Funeral Mass that will also be livestreamed using the corresponding link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxb4xx3Sac0

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Katherine’s name to:

Saint Ignatius Loyola Church

American Cancer Society, as she emceed various events for them

Memorial Sloan Kettering, who treated various people close to her

American Heart Association