Cathy Pena

Catalina (Cathy) Serafina Pena, 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 24, 2024, in Tampa Florida. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936 to Francisca and Domingo Severino. Cathy received her Diploma Maestra Normal and enjoyed being a schoolteacher. She married Jose Pena and in 1963, moved to Des Moines, Iowa where other family resided. After several years raising their two children, Mark and Mary, Cathy and Joe moved to New Jersey where Cathy enjoyed a lengthy career at Blue Cross and Blue Shield. She broke down many professional and cultural barriers and worked her way to Senior Manager. Moving to Florida in 1992, Cathy continued her career at Suncoast Hospital in Largo and later, University Community Hospital in Tampa.

In Florida, Cathy and Joe became parishioners at Incarnation Catholic Church in Tampa. Cathy joined the Incarnation Council of Catholic Women (ICCW) and later the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW). What followed was many years of service with her sisters-in-Christ supporting the local community as well as seeking legislative change in Tallahassee. She served at countless conferences and events supporting the Bishop of St. Petersburgh to further God’s message of love and service to one another. Cathy was also a member of the Columbiettes Incarnation #8612,

Cathy had a drive with energy to spare. With courage to move to a foreign country as a young mother, Cathy taught others that with self-love, confidence, and sincerity, we can do anything. She is the epitome of the American dream.

Cathy is survived by her devoted husband of 66 years, Joe Pena; her son Mark Pena and his wife Carla; and her daughter Mary Grace Leonard and her husband William; her granddaughters: Serafina, Carolina, and Kayla; her nephew Henry Pena and his wife Katerina and their daughter Helen; niece Jaquie Pena; and grandnephew Martin Pena and is wife Theresa.

The family would like to thank the people at A Country Place ALF, in Tampa, for the kind and attentive care given to Cathy; Accent Care Hospice and the compassionate nurses; Dr. Eschelbacher, M.D., for the individualized attention given. We’d like to thank Karen Kennard, who came in as therapist yet gave Cathy so much more by way of time and love. Thanks to the ministries and fellow-ship from Incarnation church and Cathy’s sisters-in-Christ of the ICCW and DCCW.

A funeral mass will be held 10:30am Saturday, March 9, at Incarnation Catholic Church Tampa (8220 W. Hillsborough Ave, Tampa 33615) with reception to follow.