Katherine Matilda was born December 1, 1927, to parents Matilda and Alexander Young in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the fifth and final child, with one older sister Frieda (Fritz) and brothers Henry, Albert, and George.
Throughout her life she had many nicknames, like Kass, Kit, and Kitty. She loved music at an early age and began to play the accordion which she continued until she was 95 when it was too heavy to lift and hold on her lap! As a teen and young adult Katherine loved to roller skate, and even danced on skates!
Katherine wed Leslie B Christy on September 28, 1946. They lived in Philadelphia where they had their first 2 children, a son Les in 1947 and daughter Kathleen in 1950. They moved to Huntingdon Valley in the suburbs, and she bore daughters LeeAnn and Gail in 1955 and 1957, respectively. Then a final child, son Paul, was born 1965. This is a miracle when we hear the story of our pilot dad flying with mom in 1963 to a “Fly-In Event” on Nassau in the Bahamas in a 35-year-old plane with no working instruments. Bubble gum on the hole in the ceiling kept the cabin wind noise lower. (Their “fun” time became solemn when they heard the news that JFK had been assassinated in Texas that week).
Katherine said the Lord told her that her son would be a preacher, and that really came true with Paul, who is a pastor at Family Bible Fellowship in Fairview Village, Pennsylvania. Daughters Kathy and Leeann serve, or have served, in ministry or churches for most of adult life. All three of her sons-in-law call her Mom, with a deeper meaning than just a traditional title—she really was their loving, accepting, and encouraging Mother from the time they met her.
Katherine instilled in her daughters a love of music AND baking. Her beloved rosette cookies at Christmas were an honored tradition and much anticipated by all. We wouldn’t know about butter cake and crumb cake without her! Her favorite was a Hungarian 7-layer coffee flavored cake. Eaten with coffee, of course!
“Kitty”, as she was known to most of her church friends, loved studying the Bible and singing praise and worship songs. She wrote music without any formal education on the subject, and even holds copyright to some songs. Most were Bible scripture set to music, which she would sing and play on the accordion or autoharp. She gifted us with tapes of this music to hold dear in future.
In 1992, she flew to Sri Lanka with her minister friend Sandy Thomas to provide the music for Christian women’s Aglow meetings there. Throughout the years in Pennsylvania she attended church and ministered in music, intercession and prayer. She prayed for all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren daily, and for others as well.
Holding many jobs from a grocery store clerk to a computer card feeder (when they were room sized with input punch cards--we loved all the tiny cardboard chips she brought home by the bag so we could throw them at football games). Later in life she worked in the microfiche department of a major insurance company. Her administrative skills were passed down to daughters as well. She retired at the age of 65 and after several years living in Pennsylvania with family and dear friends, visiting Arizona in the winters, she finally accepted the offer of daughter Gail and husband Dennis to come live with their family full time in Phoenix, Arizona in 2002. Katherine was a cherished and helpful member of Gail & Dennis’ household for decades. She put her hand to whatever needed to be done, always without complaint or murmur. What a Godly example for all, she was. And she will be missed for her organization of timely calls or cards for calendar remembrances of birthdays and anniversaries! All without computerized assistance! She had a smartphone, learned email and facebook at 88, in spite of a challenging sight condition. It was a good trade off when Dennis took her car keys away!
She was in Arizona for 22 years, pouring out more love and kindness to all who knew her. She suffered a stroke in 2022 during the week the family gathered to celebrate her 95th birthday, and for the next eighteen months was cared for in assisted living residence. She enjoyed cookies, cake, ice cream, milkshakes and coffee drinks from visitors, as well as many cards, flowers, well wishes, and prayers from everyone. When she finally passed into Jesus’ loving care, she had all 5 children saved and washed in the Blood of the Lamb, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren!
Proverbs 31:25-30
Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looks well to the ways of her household And eats not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her; Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excels above them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: But a woman that fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
We thank you for the love and prayers and blessings you shared with Kitty!
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