Cathy Kobayashi Obituary

CATHY KWON KOBAYASHI Cathy K. Kobayashi passed away peacefully at home on May 4, 2025, surrounded by her loving family and dedicated caregivers. She was 101. Born Catherine Young Soon Kwon on November 26, 1923, in Lahaina, Maui, to Mon Soo Kwon and Maria del Carmen Gonzales, Cathy was one of ten siblings. In her early years, she moved with her mother to California, residing with extended family before returning to Maui. She attended King Kamehameha III School and later Lahainaluna High School before relocating to O'ahu, where she completed her education at Roosevelt High School. In 1941, she fulfilled a lifelong aspiration by enrolling in the Queen's Medical Center School of Nursing. Cathy was present on O'ahu during the attack on Pearl Harbor, a moment etched clearly in her memory. It was during her time at Queen's that she met her future husband, Dr. Clifford Kobayashi. The couple moved to Iowa for Dr. Kobayashi's medical residency, where Cathy worked as a surgical scrub nurse. Their first child, Mary, a surviving twin, was born there. Upon returning to O'ahu, Cathy devoted herself to raising their growing family, which would come to include three more daughters. She later worked in her husband's pediatric practice, contributing her nursing skills and personal touch, even in matters of interior design. A devoted member of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Honolulu, Cathy was married there and remained committed to the church throughout her life. She continued to participate in services virtually after becoming homebound. Cathy's personal passions were many. She had a lifelong affection for cats and a talent for sewing, creating beautifully crafted garments for her daughters. At the age of 50, she discovered a love for golfa pursuit in which she excelled. Encouraged to play left-handed, she quickly developed a formidable swing, earning three holes-in-one and winning several flight championships in the prestigious Jenny K. Invitational from 1997 to 2007. Cathy was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Clifford Kobayashi and her oldest daughter Mary and son-in-law, Timothy J. Lowenberg. She is survived by daughters Susan (Robert) Schwab of Madison, WI, Rita (Joseph) May of Denver, CO and Barbara (Kurt Schanzenbach) Kobayashi of Honolulu, HI. She also is survived by 6 grandchildren Cathy Lowenberg, Christine (Schwab) Klevay, Jennifer Schwab, Stephen Schanzenbach, David Schanzenbach, Sean May and 3 greatgrandchildren. Her strength, and dedication to family and community will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, HI. Private services. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC