Catherine Zunigha

Catherine Leona Cannariato was born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 3, 1931. She was the first born of three daughters of Tony and Pearl Cannariato. Catherine was raised predominatly in the Italian community in the city of St. Louis. She graduated from St. Louis University in 1951, and was the first woman to graduate from its School of Meteorology.

While working at a military weather station in Florida, she met Air Force Sergeant Curtis Philip Zunigha, a Native American from Oklahoma. Catherine (or "Kate" to her family) and Curtis were married on December 7, 1951. While serving a career in the U.S. Air Force, Curt and Kate raised a family of four children; Curtis (b.1953), Catherine (b.1955), Christian (b.1956), and Cynthia (b.1967). Military assignments took the family to numerous locations across the country as well as to a two and a half year posting with NATO in Izmir, Turkey. While in Turkey, Kate began a lifelong career as a mathematics, and later also computer, teacher.

After the sudden death of her husband in 1988, Kate sold the family home in Topeka, Kansas and returned to Turkey to teach there again. Turkey was a country she came to know and love. She greatly admired the Turkish people and the Turkish culture, and she learned to speak Turkish quite well. She also traveled throughout Europe and Asia Minor. On her retirement from teaching in 2002, she returned to the USA and took up residence in Springfield, Missouri where her two daughters lived.

Catherine loved travel, history, science, and music. Those happily engaged her in her retirement. She was an inquisitive and perceptive learner and conversationalist.

In 2017 she became a resident of Hopedale Cottage in nearby Ozark, Missouri. She was extremely well-loved by all the staff and residents. All spoke highly of her pleasant disposition, beautiful singing voice and love of dance. All of which she shared on a daily basis. She was truly happy with her Hopedale family in her last year.

Catherine passed away after a lengthy illness on September 19, 2018 at the age of 87. She is survived by her sisters, Imogene (Jean) Nash and Antoinette Flaskamper, her four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at Herman Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut St, Springfield, Missouri 65806, on September 21, 2018 between the hours of 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Funeral Services will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 2645 E Southern Hills Blvd, Springfield, MO 65804, on September 22, 2018 at 1:00 pm.

The committal service will be held at Bartlesville Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on September 24, 2018 at 1:00 pm. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved late husband, Curtis.