She was a brilliant student, excelling in all her pre-medical studies. In 1958, she began her medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, Philippines. She was part of a very special class of gifted and talented medical students called “special B4 class.” She graduated magna cum laude in 1963 and completed one year of general internship training at UST Hospital. In 1964, Kathy travelled to Manhattan, New York, United States for an internship at French Hospital. In 1965, she moved to Chicago, Illinois to pursue a 4 year residency at Passavant Hospital and VA Hospital. During her busy medical training, she found time to volunteer at Misericordia, a home for the developmentally disabled and at a camp for children with diabetes. On June 17, 1967, she married Benito Kong-Leng Co at St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church in Brooklyn, NY. They honeymooned at the 1967 World Expo in Montreal, Canada. Soon after, she transferred to an anesthesiology residency at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY so that she could join her new husband. In 1970, the family relocated to Maryland, where Kathy continued her training first at Johns Hopkins University, then at City Hospital of Baltimore. In 1974, when she completed her residency, Kathy decided to set aside her pursuit of a medical career to focus on raising family. She and Benito raised a family of 6 children, all of whom excelled in their studies and professions.
In addition to her medical expertise, Kathy had a strong interest in poetry, botany, and gardening. She was able to name almost any plant upon sight by its scientific Latin name. She also loved to crochet, knit, and sew, all skills she learned from her mother. She made numerous articles of clothing and other useful household items.
Kathy was the beloved wife of Benito Kong-Leng for 52 years; Caring sister of Richard & Joyce, Daniel & Jesusa, and Beth & Wilson; Loving mother of Patrick, Mark & Jane, Michele & Boris, Dominic & Angeline, Christopher & Winnie, and Grace; Cherished grandmother of Dylan, Magritte, Annabelle, Lydia, Jet, Elliot, and Emerson; Dear aunt of Kenneth, Kerwin, Dana, Darien, Evan, Wilynda, Jocelyn, Josephine, Arthur, Samuel, Mignon, Karen, Rex, Cedric, and Abel.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charitable organization of your choice in her name.
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