Catherine “Kay” Castle

May 9, 1918 - October 30, 2022

We celebrate the love and life of Kay Castle, who passed on October 30th after 104 wonderful years filled with family, friends, and happy memories for all.

Kay was born in 1918 to Robert and Julia Smith, and a life-long resident of San Francisco. She was predeceased by her parents, and four siblings, Juel, Lu and Bob Smith and Mary Farrelly, and her beloved husband, Arthur Castle, and grandson Jeffrey Castle.

Kay was a devoted mother to Cathie Anderson (the late Bill) and Arthur “Buddy” Castle (the late Linda) and a loving presence to her grandchildren, Cathie Marie Lunardi (Ron) and Dana Harper (the late Mark); great-grandchildren Taylor Lunardi and Arianna Harper, and great-great-grandchildren Delilah Harper and Gavin Eagle.

She will be missed dearly by her many nieces and nephews in the Flynn, Swanson, Farrelly, and Smith families and their many children and grandchildren.

In 1940, Kay married Art Castle, the head pressman at the San Francisco Progress. In 1942, Kay gave birth to Buddy, just before Art went to fight in the Pacific in World War II. Cathie followed in 1947. Kay and Art were true symbols of the Greatest Generation.

Family, faith, and fun were the pillars in Kay’s life, and she poured her boundless energy into her children, and families of fellow parishioners at The Church of the Epiphany, where she taught catechism and was a Eucharistic Minister. Together Kay and Art provided much fun at their home in San Francisco. And were surrounded by friends and family in their summer cabin in Camp Meeker where there were always games, music, and dancing: “Come swing and sway with Cathie and Kay.” The Saturday night shows were a favorite.

Kay lost Art in 1981. But never lost her zest for life, throwing herself into local and national politics, the SF Giants, her grandchildren and maintained the daily “measure and pour” she enjoyed with Art. Kay was glamorous, and “dressed for the Lord” every day. She answered every phone call with “praise the Lord and pray for peace.”

Kay embodied faith and unconditional love for over a century, and these are the timeless gifts she leaves us, and we cherish.

Our entire family would like to thank Raymond Dichoso at Marian Garden Care Home, Santa Rosa, for his exceptional care, friendship, and compassion for the past two years.

Friends and family may visit Mon., Nov. 7 after 9:30am and are invited to attend a Rosary at 10:30am at Church of the Epiphany, 827 Vienna St. at Naples, SF. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Nov. 7 at Church of the Epiphany. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma. Contributions may be made to St. Philip’s Catholic Church, PO Box 339, Occidental, CA 95465.