Katherine Elizabeth (Arata) Groth, age 36, slipped from the arms of her family into her Heavenly Father''s embrace, where pain and suffering are finally no more on May 19, 2012. Kathy was born December 4, 1975 in South Bend, Indiana.
Kathy leaves behind the true joys and loves of her life, her husband Ryan Kenneth Groth and her daughter Allison Elizabeth Groth, both of Osceola. Also surviving are her parents, Thomas and Patricia (Horn) Arata and her maternal grandfather, Kenneth Horn. Kathy is also survived by her brother James David Arata and his companion Jennifer of Elkhart, her Mother-in-law, Audrey Groth and her companion John Lee of Granger, her Brother-in-law Brandon Groth and his fiance Melissa, and her Sister-in-Law Shannon Groth and her daughter Mackenzie. Kathy was preceded in death by her grandmother, Helen Horn, and her paternal grandparents Edward and Wilma Arata.
Kathy was a graduate of St. Joseph Grade School in Mishawaka, Marian High School, and Indiana University. Her first job as a teenager was at Martin''s Supermarkets, and she worked various other part time jobs, working her way through school. She brought responsibility, hard work, and joy to each job she had. Each friend she made along the way were friends she kept through her life. She valued friendship and made an effort to constantly stay in touch. Kathy accepted a position at Crowe Chizek and worked there for several years until health issues required her to resign. As an employer, Crowe Chizek supported her in the hours that she could work while undergoing treatment, donated airline miles and financial support for her appointments to M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas who specialized in sarcoma cancer, showing that large corporations do indeed have a very big heart.
Although she was a patient in Houston, they coordinated her treatment and care with Michiana Hematology Oncology in South Bend by Dr. Rafat Ansari and Brandee Flagg. Their personal attention and kindness will never be forgotten, as well as the complete staff of "angels" who were the nurses administering her treatments. Her constant infusions and subsequent treatments were in the infusion center and the family wishes to humbly thank Lisa, Rita and Gwen among others who always turned our appointments into a day of enjoyment. Dr. B. Tran and his radiation oncologists went out of their way to do all they could to alleviate the horrible pain Kathy endured. They were willing to change their schedules in order to be available when she could get there, just to help her.
In 2010, Kim Zobrosky nominated Kathy for a makeover by "Hello Gorgeous" and just this past February, she was honored by their "inspiration award."
Kathy was constantly hearing from her friends and family of their admiration for her strength, but in the end, all Kathy wanted to do was lead a quiet, simple and healthy life with Ryan and Ally. She dearly loved their camping trips that they spent with friends and family, and loved to inspire Ally to learn more about nature. A perfect evening for Kathy was sipping a glass of wine on the front porch with Ryan.
Prayer chains from all over America and other countries as well, prayed for her healing. As her health and pain got worse, it was tempting to feel God had deserted us, but; "When we felt God had left us, YOU smiled and said you were praying- that''s when we saw God''s love. " "When we thought God didn''t care, YOU cried because of our pain - then we knew God cares for us." "When we were feeling unlovely, Hello Gorgeous, YOU were there - then we saw how beautiful God is." "All of you who touched our lives in so many ways, - YOU showed us the heart of God."
Visitation will be at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Highway, Osceola, Indiana 46561 on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 from 3-8 pm. There will also be one hour of calling prior to the mass of Christian Burial which will be held at 1:00 pm Thursday, May 24, 2012 at St. Pius X Church 52553 Fir Road, Granger, Indiana, with the Rev. Monsignor William C. Schooler officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.
The family wishes to thank her loyal friends, the Tri Kappa Sorority, and her family members who sent meals, made constant contacts, sent cards, and came to the treatment area to pray with us and those who were so willing to help us with caring for Ally while dealing with Kathy''s treatments, including most of all, Ally''s Godmother, Aunt Fran and Rev. Monsignor William C. Schooler, who had been so kind and prayerful for Kathy,.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ally''s education fund. Kathy''s fondest desire was to have Ally attend St. Pius X grade school where Kathy had enrolled her for preschool in the fall. Her family intends to make that happen.