Obituary: Litzenberger, Kathryn (Thomas)
Age 82
She passed away December 21 in Spokane.
She graduated from North Central High School in 1950 and St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1953.
She married George Litzenberger in 1954 and they lived in Seattle where they raised their three children.
They divorced in 1979 but remained the best of friends until he passed away in 2010.
Kate worked at several hospitals while in Seattle.
She moved back to Spokane in 1983 after her mother passed away.
Kate had a passion for refurbishing old houses and she and her good friend Jean Lequeux accepted the challenge of turning her mother’s house (which needed a healthy dose of TLC) into a lovely home!
During this time both Kate and Jean (who was also an RN) worked at SHMC.
When this nine year project was completed they sold the house.
It was not long before Kate and Jean bought a large house on the South Hill and transformed it into a beautiful home where they cared for elderly ladies (usually six at a time) who could no longer live alone.
They named this house “Avonlea.”
It was during this time that both Kate and Jean retired from hospital nursing.
They took care of their Avonlea ladies for eight years.
In 2000 they sold Avonlea and bought an RV and traveled the country for several months.
In 2003 they built a house on the South Hill and settled down.
Kate continued doing what she had done her entire life … caring for others.
This included several family members.
Kate is preceded in death by her parents, her Brother (Ed Thomas) and Sister (Pat McMahon).
She leaves behind her three children: Karla, Tom, and John, along with seven grandchildren.
She is very proud of her family and considers them to be her greatest achievement.
Kate also leaves behind her very good friend Jean who has stayed with her throughout it all!
Jean has been a true friend!!
A celebration of Kate’s life will be held later.
Kate asks that in lieu of flowers please donate to Hospice of Spokane.