Kathleen Elaine LaFetra Obituary (2024)

Kathleen Elaine LaFetra ("Kathy"), passed away peacefully on May 10, 2024, at Fieldstone Memory Care in Yakima, Washington. Born to Adelaide and Charles Moore on November 19,1947 in Los Angeles, California, Kathy spent her early years in southern California, graduating from UC Irvine in 1970 with a degree in History. Kathy excelled in writing, drawing, painting, and created beautiful journals of her many trips, having visited each of the seven continents on journeys with her family, friends, and colleagues. She loved music, played the saxophone, piano, and accordion, and could sing along with all the old Broadway show tunes. Her family will remember her adventurous spirit, sense of humor, love of ice cream, and generous heart. She briefly worked as a substitute teacher in Seattle, WA, before moving to Wenas, WA with her ex-husband, Frank Kovatch; they lived there for many years in a log cabin they built together. Kathy then moved to Yakima, where she worked at YVCC in Student Services for 30 years; she loved her role of supporting students in their goals to graduate and achieve their dreams. Predeceased by her parents, Kathys memory will be honored and kept alive by her surviving siblings, Carol (Bill) Warren and Joseph (Donna) MacKenzie, her nephews Tom (Linda) Warren, Fr. Nektarios, Quinn MacKenzie, Brent (Briana) MacKenzie, great nieces Alexandra (Carlos) Carrasco and Katherine Warren, and best friend Roxanne Baca, who was incredibly helpful in Kathys transition to assisted living. She will be missed by her many friends and former colleagues in Yakima. The service to celebrate Kathys life will be an intimate family gathering to be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimers Association or Yakima Valley College Foundation in c/o Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936) who is caring for the family. The family wish to express gratitude to the staff of Fieldstone Memory Care for their continual excellent care, and the staff at MultiCare Memorial Hospice and Home Care, with special thanks to Melissa for her kindness and care during Kathys final hours. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.