Obituary - Katherine Foster - Class of 1937

Katherine Foster
Class of 1937


© Published on April 14, 2013

Katherine Foster
Katherine Foster Katherine (Kay or Katie) Adele Foster Hoefer Shared her happy heart and love with all. Born in Denver, Colorado on November 17, 1920, to Georgia and Everett Foster, Katherine moved with her parents to Oakland, California. Katherine attended Oakland High School and University of California, Berkeley. Katherine sang with dance bands in the East Bay where she met her future husband, John H. Hoefer. She joined the Delta Gamma Sorority at UC Berkeley and was elected "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi."

Katherine married John Hoefer on September 9, 1939 in Santa Rosa, CA. John was by then a Lieutenant in the Navy, stationed at the Tiburon Net Depot. Their first child, Carolyn, was born on January 13, 1941 in Vallejo. They were soon stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii and were there during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Katherine returned to California pregnant with their second child, Susan, born on November 15, 1942 in Santa Rosa. Fortunately, John Hoefer returned after the war and a third child, John, was born on February 2, 1946. The family then moved to San Francisco where they settled in Twin Peaks. Katherine became involved in the children's school and Girl Scouts and volunteering with various organizations in San Francisco. A fourth child, Mary, was born on October 20, 1952. Another move brought the family to Belvedere, California in 1954 to the newly developed lagoon. The fifth child, Bill, was born on May 10, 1955.

Katherine Foster The house on Peninsula Rd. where Katherine and John would live for 40 years was always filled with happy kids swimming, sailing and canoeing. Katherine loved the ruckus and was a fun-loving hostess to the Belvedere community. Many will remember the annual hosting of the Cal Crew races and seeing the Hoefers walking in the neighborhood daily with their Golden Retrievers. Katherine also found time for PTA, the Century Club in SF, bridge, entertaining John's advertising associates, accompanying weddings on the piano, St. Stephen's Guild, Belvedere Tennis Club, piano lessons, swimming lessons, baseball and football games and family dinners. The Hoefers also went on numerous UC Alumni Trips to Europe and Asia. As the older children grew up, tragedy struck the family with the death of Mary, who died while hiking in Yosemite. Katherine survived this tragic loss with grace and continued to give her all to her husband and family.

In 1961, grandchildren began to arrive and became a welcome priority and fixture at the house. Nicknamed Liliee, she loved her family and was always happy to see them, welcoming all with a warm smile and twinkle in her eye. In 2000, Katherine moved to the University Retirement Community (URC) in Davis, California. Sadly, John Hoefer, died in 2001, followed by the death of Carolyn in October 2003 and Bill in 2006. The care and love that she received at the URC helped her to age even more gracefully, accepting all of these losses with a strong faith. She was beloved by all who cared for her, sharing her spirit of optimism and love of life and laughter. She passed away in her sleep on March 27, 2013 in Davis, California. She was 92 years old.

Katherine is survived by her son John of Glenbrook, NV, and daughter Susan of Healdsburg, CA; nine grand-children; and nineteen great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Thursday, April 25 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 3 Bay View Avenue, Belvedere, California. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the URC Staff Appreciation Fund, URC, 1515 Shasta Drive, Davis, California 95616.