Katheleen Leone Lizama's Obituary
Katheleen Leone Smith Lizama was born on July 31, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois to William Hession Smith and Lucille Pauline Benty Smith. She met and married her husband of 54 years, Dr. Elmer J. "Mel" Lizama in New York on June 14, 1969 and they had their one and only child, their daughter, Tamra "Tami" Lizama Hilden, in 1976 in St. Louis, MO. Katheleen passed away unexpectedly on January 22, 2024 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 84 due to complications from the immunotherapy she had received from her most recent battle with cancer, Non-Hodgkin’s Large Cell Lymphoma (stage 1). Katheleen had gone into remission quickly (within 3 months of treatment), but the immunotherapy had weakened her immune system too much; she was an 8 time cancer survivor, but the lowered immune system this time opened the door to pneumonia and took her life unexpectedly.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Dr. Elmer J "Mel" Lizama and beloved daughter, Tami Lizama Hilden, both of Dallas, TX.
Katheleen, affectionately known as Kathy, lived a life of love and service. Kathy received her master’s degree in social work from New York University (on a full academic scholarship) and was a licensed family and marriage therapist that served the St. Louis, MO and then Dallas, TX community for a total of 45 years with her husband. She relocated with her family to TX to run the supervision program of Clinical Social Work department at Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital in 1981 and then took a position with Green Oaks Psychiatric Hospital to head their Social Work department. Kathy and her husband Mel also had a private practice of Lizama and Lizama Counseling Services until they both retired.
Kathy was an amazing woman of God with the faith of a lion and a long-time parishioner at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Richardson, TX where she was a part of the Manna program as well as the woman's club for many years. She was so enriched by the Sunday classes at St Joseph's provided by University of Dallas professors as well as her monthly retreats at the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House in Dallas. Kathy had a special devotion to Our Lady and to the intercession of her patron saint St. Ignatius of Loyola, as well as a few of her favorites that she found great comfort in like Padre Pio, St. Rita, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Joseph and most importantly our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a pro-life advocate and donated to several pro-life organizations that focused on providing care for the mother and the child well beyond the birth as it was important to her that the mothers finished their education to be able to provide for themselves and their child and knew we all needed a little help. Kathy loved being a "red hatter" with the Dallas "Bid D Re-Gals" chapter just shy of 20 years where she formed some of her most cherished friendships and had so many good times.
Katheleen was raised in an Irish-Italian Catholic home in "Wrigleyville" and was the oldest of 4 and is survived by her brother William "Bill" Smith and his wife Ronni Smith and their children, her sister Roberta Smith and her children and her sister-in-law Paula Smith widow to her baby brother Thomas "Tom" Smith and their children. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Ceil and Bill, and her baby brother Thomas "Tom" Emmanuel Smith. Kathy was very family oriented and loved and cherished any time she spent with her family and was the happiest when she was surrounded by her family. She was loved and surrounded by so many friends whom she loved dearly and were most precious to her heart. Kathy loved to cook; she especially loved to make her Grandma Jenny's Italian family recipes and her Nanna's Irish soda bread for St. Patrick's day.
Katheleen was raised in an Irish-Italian Catholic home in "Wrigleyville" and was the oldest of 4 and is survived by her brother William "Bill" Smith (wife Ronni Smith and their children), her sister Roberta Smith and her children and her sister-in-law Paula Smith widow to her baby brother Thomas "Tom" Smith and their children. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Ceil and Bill, and her baby brother Tom. To say that Kathy was very family oriented would be a gross understatement, she loved and cherished any time she spent with her family and was the happiest when she was surrounded by them. Kathy was loved and surrounded by so many friends whom she loved dearly and were most precious to her heart. Kathy loved to cook; she especially loved to make her Grandma Jenny's Italian family recipes and her Nanna's Irish soda bread for St. Patrick's day.
Funeral Details:
The funeral will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024, there will be a rosary said in the church for Katheleen at 10am to be immediately followed by the funeral mass at 10:30am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 600 S. Jupiter Road, Richardson, TX 75081. After the mass, there will be refreshments, visiting, photos and her favorites songs. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, if you prefer, please donate to Several Sources Shelters at https://www.severalsources.org
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