Kathy Maria Sanchez

Kathy “India” Sanchez, 56, a resident of Cherry Valley, California, passed away surrounded by family and under comfort care at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana on February 9, 2024. Kathy was born on December 22, 1967, as the oldest of three daughters to Maximino “Max” Marquez and Maria Marquez (née Biancalana). After spending her formative years in San Leandro, Kathy followed her father to Southern California to help with the family business.

As a dedicated secretary at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Kathy was well known and loved in the church and San Bernardino community at large. Last year, she was honored with the 2022 St. Bernardine Award, recognizing her nearly 20 years of exemplary and generous leadership and service in promoting the mission of St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

Kathy had an adventurous spirit and never let her health challenges stop her from experiencing life to the fullest. She traveled to Jerusalem, Italy, Hawaii, and Mexico, and she was always planning a new vacation with her family. She was an amazing cook and was known for her delicious pozole and Mexican rice that she generously shared with family and friends.

Kathy was married to the love of her life Fausto Sanchez for 25 years. Their love was on no greater display than in her final years as her health declined and Fausto served as her primary caregiver: driving her to work and hospital visits, and tending to all her health needs at home.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother Romana Rocha, her maternal grandmother and godmother Pia Biancalana, her father Max Marquez, her mother Maria Marquez, and her sons Michael “Mikey” Villarreal and Brian Sanchez.

Kathy is survived by her devoted husband, Fausto Sanchez, her children, Daniel Villarreal (Krystal), Andrea Avila, and Kevin Sanchez, and granddaughters Mikayla Marquez and Isabella Avila. In Northern California, she will forever be remembered by her sisters Dina Marquez Cisneros (Jose) and Mary “Mimi” Marquez (Darin Nishimoto) as well as her dear nephews and niece Jose “Baby Jose” Cisneros, Pia Cisneros, Max Cisneros, Joseph "JoJo" Cisneros, and Andrew Marquez, as well as her many godchildren.