Katherine Rascati

Katherine F. Rascati passed away on February 11, 2025, at the age of 89 after a brief battle with pneumonia. “Kay”, as she was affectionately known to all, was born on September 19, 1935, in Arlington, Massachusetts. Following her graduation from Arlington High School, Kay obtained a job in the bookkeeping department of Harvard Trust. During this time on a blind date, she met her future husband, Tony. He was the love of her life, and they married in 1956. After Tony graduated from Optometry school in 1958, they moved to Clairton, Pennsylvania where they lived during their early years of marriage. In 1965, Kay and Tony moved their family to Florida and opened an Optometry practice in Boynton Beach. During her years in Boynton Beach, Kay worked as a receptionist in her husband’s practice and was very active in her church, her children’s home and school association and everything that came with a young, active family. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Palm Beach Optometric Association and held offices in each organization. After Tony sold his practice in 1981, Kay and Tony moved to Temple Terrace, Florida where Kay worked as a Kindergarten Aide at Lewis Elementary until her retirement in 1999. Upon retirement they moved to Spring Hill, Florida where Kay was an active member in many ladies social groups. In February 2021, Kay and Tony made the decision to sell their home. They moved to Gainesville to live with their daughter Karen and to be closer to family. After Tony’s passing in December 2022, Kay moved to Jasmine Pointe and was very active in social activities, making many new and cherished friends. To know Kay was to know love, and fittingly her favorite color was red. Kay never met a stranger and always had a kind word for everyone. She possessed a strong and unwavering faith in God, and love and devotion for Jesus and Mary. She was a fabulous cook and always made sure no one left her home hungry. She enjoyed ceramics, reading mystery and romance novels, watching Hallmark movies and socializing with friends, but her family was her passion and joy. Kay experienced numerous life-threatening health/physical battles over the years. She was strong and continued to fight through adversity. When she left us, God truly gained a warrior in Heaven. Kay was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She was preceded in death by her parents Daniel and Loretta Keleher and two infant daughters, Michelle and Maria Rascati. She is survived by her children and their spouses , Michael Rascati (Debbie), Lisa Heinz (Tom), Karen Erickson (John), and Maria Guy (Doug), nine grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and her two sisters, Connie Weber and Diane Ragusa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 11:00 am at Queen of Peace Catholic Church 10900 SW 24th Avenue, Gainesville, FL. Burial will follow at Forest Meadows Central Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 am in the church.

Katherine Rascati

September 19, 1935 - February 11, 2025