Sunday’s Obituaries: Aunt Katie and Cousin Steve

Yesterday was an exhausting day. It was a bittersweet day. I saw so many family members who I do not always have the opportunity to see and yet I saw them because of the circumstances. One of my daughters and I attended the viewing of my cousin and the services and burial for my aunt.

Katherine Wiker was my paternal grandfather’s sister. She was the last of that generation.

Aunt Katie’s obituary reads:

Katherine "Katie" Wiker
Photo with obituary

Katherine Ruczhak Wiker, 92, died Friday, October 21, 2016 in Windsor, New York. She was the wife of Chester P. Wiker Sr., who preceded her in death having shared 47 years of marriage.

Katherine was born in Coatesville, and lived in Hershey, PA and Windsor, NY. She was the daughter of the late Panko and Bessie Ruczhak. She worked for 24 years at Pepperidge Farm and then worked for the Coatesville Association for the Blind. She was devoted to her family and friends and was a member of Olivet United Methodist Church.

Surviving her are her children, Chester P. Wiker, Jr.; Katherine M. Schwartz; daughters-in-law, Terri and Norah Wiker; son-in-law, Dave; 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Richard E. Wiker; daughter-in-law, Gail Fry Wiker; and an infant daughter, Bessie Ann Wiker. She was also preceded in death by her brothers and sisters; Joseph, Theodore, Nicholas, Paul, Mary, Helen, Ann and Peter.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Harris Mountain Funeral & Cremation Service, 1030 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville where relatives and friends may begin calling at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Romansville Methodist Cemetery.

Her obituary was published on Harris Mountain Funeral Home’s website. I do need to note that she had one other brother – also named Theodore – who passed early. He was just a toddler when he died and few of the siblings even knew about him. Aunt Katie did though. She told me once that her mom used to have her drive up the Polish Cemetery outside Coatesville to “visit” the baby.

Steve is my cousin. His mother and my maternal grandmother were sisters. Everyone called him “Buddy” but I never thought to ask why. It may have been to differentiate between him and his father, also named Stephen.

His obituary read:

Steve Kaba
Photo with obituary

Stephen E. Kaba, III, 72, of Royersford, PA, died on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 in Southeastern Veterans' Center, Royersford, PA. He was the husband of Mary (Giampietro) Kaba, who he was married to for 48 years. Born on June 27, 1944 in Phoenixville, PA, he was the son of the late Stephen E. Kaba, Jr., and Loretta (Welsh) Kaba.
Stephen was a graduate of Phoenixville High School, class of 1962.

Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Master Sergeant.

He was employed as a General Contractor for many years, until his retirement. He was a friend of the Chapel of Four Chaplains, and a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Church in Royersford, PA.

Surviving in addition to his wife are, son, Stephen Kaba IV and wife Christine of Douglassville, PA, grandfather of, Hailey and Lauren Kaba, brother of Loretta Swier and Martin Kaba. He was preceded in death by his sister, Donna Moore.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3640 Schuylkill Road, Spring City, PA, on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Limerick Garden of Memories. A viewing will be held in the church on Saturday morning from 9:00 am to 10:45 am.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Southeastern Veterans' Center Resident Welfare Fund, DMVA Office for Veterans Affairs, Bldg. O-47, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002.

It was published on the Devlin Rosmos Keep Gatcha Funeral Home’s website.

Sunday’s Obituary is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

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