Margaret Catherine 'Cathy' Rogers-Kowalski

Margaret Catherine "Cathy" Rogers Kowalski, age 49, of Mesilla Park passed away peacefully on November 12, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona surrounded by her immediate family. Cathy was born on November 6, 1965 in Las Cruces, New Mexico to Peggy and Jerry Rogers. A native to the area she grew up in Mesilla Park, attended school at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, Zia Junior High and graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1983. Cathy attended New Mexico State University after high school but was inspired to study the culinary arts at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York where she became a skilled chef, graduating in 1988. On September 6, 1990 she married Dr. Gregory A. Kowalski and in 1994 she gave birth to her beloved daughter Franie (Margaret Frances). Above all else Cathy embraced being a loving and devoted mother to Franie and she found life's greatest joy and fulfillment in that relationship. For several years Cathy managed the business aspects of her husband's medical practice and as was common for Cathy many long term friendships developed with both staff and patients. Cathy's focus on raising Franie brought her into the lives of seven women all with daughters of a similar age. This group of "Mommies" formed a deep, loving and lasting connection to Cathy and to each other. Cathy considered them sisters of the heart, and they are. Cathy had tremendous strength and generosity of spirit. A lifelong Catholic she found comfort in her religious faith. She had the heart of a romantic, an artistic and creative sensibility, a knack with tools of any sort, a diligent work ethic, sharp intellect and a mischievous and sometimes naughty sense of humor. Cathy delighted in the preparation and sharing of her legendary and potent holiday eggnog. She loved celebrations, traditions, music, hugs, kisses, laughter and fun. Cathy loved deeply and lived fully. In March 2012 Cathy received the gift of life as a double lung transplant patient at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She was thankful beyond measure. Cathy was blessed with two and a half years of health after her transplant allowing her to travel and enjoy all the benefits of a happy and healthy lifestyle. Cathy is survived by her cherished daughter Franie of Mesilla Park, her sister Clare Futrell Stachura and brother in-law Henry (Hank) Stachura, M.D. of Gallup, New Mexico, niece Jessica Hubert, brother in-law Bobby Kowalski and his wife Kathy Elaine, sister in-law Teresa Buhre and her husband Danny, sister in-law Kathy Ann Smith, brother in-law Steven Kowalski and his wife Lori all of California. Seven sisters of the heart Ellie McLees, Maggie Hornung, Michelle Arterburn, Natalie Goodwin, Ophelia Watkins, Pamela Cort and Shelley Wiedmaier along with many extended family members and dear friends. Her faithful and loving feline companions Sagwa, Cosmos, Cisco and Tater. Cathy is predeceased by her husband Gregory Kowalski, D.O., her parents Margaret (Peggy) Rogers, former Judge of Mesilla, New Mexico and Jerry Rogers, PhD., her brother Mark Futrell Rogers, mother in-law Frances Kowalski and father in-law Robert Kowalski. A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Albert the Great, Newman Center, 2615 S. Solano Dr., Las Cruces on Thursday, November 20 at 3:30pm. In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to the American Lung Association at 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004 or online at www.lung.org. To offer a local donation in Cathy's honor please contact Enchanted Gardens Cat Rescue, 270 Avenida de Mesilla, Las Cruces, NM 88005. PDF Printable Version