Cathleen "Cathy" Cruz

Cathleen (Cathy) Cruz (née Vela), age 65, was born on November 11, 1957, and passed away in her home in Kent, WA on June 18, 2023, after a long, hard-fought battle with breast cancer. Cathy was a strong, compassionate, and witty woman who was known for her loving nature, feistiness, and great sense of humor.

Cathy was born and raised in the Seattle area to Israel (“Roy”) and Genevieve (“Bonnie”) Vela. She attended Foster Highschool, where she was a cheerleader (only because there were no other sports for women to play at that time, something she made up for later in her life) and graduated in 1976. After high school, Cathy started working at ‘Pay 'n Pak’, a home improvement chain based out of Kent, WA. During this time, she joined the work softball league where she had her chance to shine on the field as shortstop and did so well, she won the ‘Golden Glove’ award multiple times. At one of these softball games, a mutual friend introduced Cathy to her future husband and the love of her life, Gary. The couple married in April 1986 and had three children that they raised on the Cruz family farm, and later moved to their home in the Scenic Hills area of Kent. Cathy was fortunate to have the ability to stay home and raise her children; she loved them all fiercely, she was always their biggest cheerleader and protector. Cathy re-entered the workforce in 1998, working alongside her sister for the City of Kent in the Parks and Recreation department, throughout her time there she made many friends and eventually retired in 2021.

Cathy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 but despite the odds, refused to give up without a fight. Because of her resilience, her faith and with the help of her doctors, she graced this world with three additional years that we originally didn’t think we would have.

Cathy was a woman of faith who always counted her blessings and made a point to ensure everyone around her felt loved and welcomed. She loved music, dancing, good food, and all the Seattle sports teams, but most of all, she loved her family and friends. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Cathy is survived by her husband of 37 years, Gary Cruz; their three children, Carly (Patrick Campion), Adrianna (Bob Norris), Garrett, her brother Mario (Jennifer Vela) and sister Toni (Marc Wildoner) along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

There will be a small service held in her memory on Friday, July, 14 at Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Kent Senior Center.