Obituary of Kathryn Catania Ragsdale

Kathryn ?Kitty? Catania Ragsdale, 96, died in her home on December 1, 2010. She was born December 12, 1913, in Pittsburg, California, to Mary and Vincent Catania, and moved shortly thereafter with her family to Monterey, California. Kitty was the first Woman appointed on the Monterey Planning commission in the 1960?s, where she served for 10 years. She was past president of the Business and Professional Womens? Club of Monterey and the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Kitty was a member of the Carmel Valley Gem and Mineral Society. She was a member of the navy league of U.S. Monterey Peninsula Council. She was past president of the Monterey Civic Club and was known for decorating the roses donated through the civic club to the Merienda to celebrate Monterey?s birthday. She did that for over 50 years. She was also in charge of decorations for the Cascarones Ball. Kitty was given the Laura Bride Power memorial award for her dedication to the preservation of Monterey?s heritage by the Monterey History and Art Association during the Merienda in 1980. She was a member of the Historic Garden League She was a member of the National Federation of Republican Women, Carmel Chapter She was a member of the Friends of Monterey Symphony She was a member of the Pacific Grove National Historical Museum She was a charter member of the Quota Club, was honored by the Quota club as woman of the year in 1976 and was awarded the 25 years of membership in 1983. She also supported the We Share Foundation through her involvement in the Quota club. In 1988 she was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Parade of Nations. She was honored by the Monterey public library league for several years of volunteering. She was on the Friends of the Monterey fair board and was honored by the Monterey Fair in 2002 where she was given many awards and accolades by our county, congress and the senate. She was honored by the Mayor of Seaside in 2003 She was a member of the Pebble Beach and Tennis Club where she would often be seen bringing guests for lunch on Mondays. In 2006 the Monterey County Board of Supervisors gave a resolution in honor of Kathryn "Kitty" Catania Ragsdale as one of four prominent Italian-Americans in Monterey County being recognized by the Italian-American Cultural Center Foundation. She was a supporter of MPC Womens programs and Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where she was an assoc.auxilary member of the hospital. She was director of the Monterey chapter of the Red Cross. She was also a volunteer at the Crippled Childrens and Adult Association. She is survived by her daughter Kathryn (Roger) Cartwright, grandson Henry Roger Cartwright (Jessie) great grand daughter Isabella, two brothers Frank (Melba) Catania and Vince Catania, two sisters Joanna LaSala and Estelle Brucato, Sister In Law Mary Lou Catania and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry Ragsdale, her parents Mary and Vincent Catania, her brothers Salvatore Catania and Sam Catania, and her sisters Mary Torrente and Angela Frontera. Visitation will be Monday, December 6, 2010, between 4-7pm at the Mission Mortuary. Mass will be Tuesday, December 7, 2010, at 9:30am. at San Carlos Cathedral.