Una Katherine Wolf, referred to as Katherine or Kathy, passed away on March 30, 2025, in Chico, CA. She was born to Una Dyer Powers & Roswell Joseph Powers on September 30, 1930, in New York City, NY.
Kathy grew up in NYC and spent summer months with extended family in the Adirondacks in her earliest years and later in the Catskills near East Durham, NY.
Although she had no biological siblings, she considered her cousin Ronnie to be her sister and best friend.
Kathy met Eugene (Gene) Wolf through friends and family when she was a teenager.
They fell in love and were married April 14, 1952, at Saint Helena’s Church in Bronx, NY.
Kathy earned her B.S, in Nursing in1951 from The College of Mt. Saint Vincents and her M.A. soon after. Kathy first taught Nursing in New York City and then in Columbus, GA while Gene completed National Guard Officer Training.
Eventually returning to New York City, Kathy taught Nursing a few more years before the couple moved to Columbus, OH. In Columbus they raised a family of six children. Kathy cherished being amom, community member, and volunteer.
After 11 years the family moved to Portland, Maine and then Southern California.
There Kathy returned to work teaching Nursing at CSLA and LACCD. A lover of education, she earned an additional M.A. from Pepperdine in 1982 and her Doctorate in 1992.
Kathy worked as a Marriage and Family Counselor and continued teaching and counseling until 2007.
She was passionate about family, animals, theatre, music, reading, travel, conversation, her Catholic Faith, and being 95% Irish.
Gene Passed in 2008, and she moved to Chico, CA in 2014 to be closer to family. There she enjoyed her cat, large dogs, church activities and family time. Kathy is a breast cancer survivor but in her last few years Kathy dealt with some impairments due to dementia, blindness and lack of mobility.
Kathy is survived by her children: Ginni Vernau (Dan) ofChico, CA, Mike Wolf (Kristen) of Lancaster, SC, Gwen Dumas (Tom) of Bear Valley Springs, CA, Martin Wolf and Brendan Wolf of Southern CA and a grandchild Kanan Wolf who she raised.
She is also survived by grandchildren Ryan, Rory, Nalani, Andrew, Eric, Amanda, Alec, and great grandchildren Walker.
Emmy, Everett and Maxine.
She is preceded in death by her husband Gene, her daughter Julie, her grandson Timothy and all relatives from her generation.
This feisty strong willed “Irish Woman” will be remembered for her energetic nature, generosity, and humor.
If you would like to make a donation in her name, contributions can be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, The Alzheimer’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, or any mental health charity.
A funeral mass will be held for Kathy on April 10, 2025, at 11AM at Our Divine Savior Church in Chico, CA. She will be buried later with her husband, mother, and grandson in Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley.
To send condolences to the family go online at NewtonBracewell.com.