Katherine B. Reppas

January 4, 1932 - June 6, 2015

Katherine Brawner Reppas passed away peacefully on June 6, 2015 due to complications resulting from dementia. Born in 1932, Kay was the first child of W.P. Fuller and Isabel S. Brawner of Hillsborough where she lived most of her life. Kay attended Hamlin School, Wheaton College and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Child Psychology. At Stanford she met and subsequently married George S. Reppas. They were married for 60 years until his passing just 11 weeks earlier in March.

Throughout Kay’s life, she always made family her priority. While her children were young, she choose to stay at home and make sure her children were cared for in the best way possible, always available for homework assistance, chauffeur services, support and advice, with good food and a warm heart. During these years, she volunteered at school, the junior league, and was on both school and charity boards. She continued her volunteer work for many years, one of the main organizations being the Family Service Agency of San Mateo County. She eventually started working there part time which grew into a full time job. She took over the controller position after a few years ultimately becoming responsible for the multi-million dollar budget for over 20 years. All this while making sure her children continued their studies providing a safe haven for them even during the difficult years when her husband was held captive as a political prisoner in Madagascar.

As her children grew to adulthood and started their own families, Kay was right there to be a part of her grandchildren’s lives just as she had been for her own children. Even though she was working full time she always planned her schedule around visits to her grandchildren for special occasions, traveling to Washington state and Switzerland multiple times each year. She even chose to retire from her prestigious position at the Family Service Agency to help raise her youngest grandchild here in the bay area.

Kay is survived by her sister, Ann; her sister-in-law, Linda; her children, Robert, Charles and Katherine; her grandchildren, Troy, Paul, Eric, Nicholas, Kirstin, Timothy and Miranda; and her great grandchild, Junia. Her family misses her very much.

Donations in her name are most welcome and should be sent to Mountain Meadows Senior Living Campus, an exceptional place with exceptional people, 320 Park Avenue, Leavenworth, WA 98826, or The Family Service Agency of San Mateo County, 24 2nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401.