Cathy Kowalchuk

Catherine Mantikou Kowalchuk, a wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters at the age of 83 on August 27, 2024. Born on July 13, 1941 in Rhodes, Greece. She was an operations clerk retail manager for the Base Exchange on Randolph AFB, TX., a Girl Scout Troop Leader, and former Auxiliary President for the VFW in Schertz, TX.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Kowalchuk, Jr., her parents, Ft. Michalis Mantikou and Pareskevi Koutsoukos as well as her siblings, Kostas, Ft. Vasili, Ilya, and Nick Mantikos, Maria Hodge, Kiki Hatziantoniou, and her son-in-law, Ken Keller.

She is survived by her siblings Christina Lessarapi, Eleftheria Demarinis, and Georgia Maliaraki as well as her daughters Shawna Spitler, Beth and son-in-law Gus Alvarado, Georgia Davenport, Peggy and son-in-law Joe Mendoza, and Vivi Gregg. Her grandchildren Melissa and grandson-in-law Benjamin Boney, Lorie, Christina, and Cathy Lee Spitler, Jaimie Spitler and grandson-in-law Miguel Coronado, Maggie and grandson-in-law Andy Rogers, Catherine Alvarado and grandson-in-law Pete Ybanez, Jordan Tawil and granddaughter-in-law Meaghan Tawil, Tavo Alvarado and grandson-in-law Alex Ramirez, Jordan and Joshua Mendoza. Her great grandchildren Deyton, Liam, Jackson, and Griffin Boney, Harlie Terran, Ahlee, Aiden, and Addison Cano, Zoe Siffuentes, Alex and Olivia Coronado, Skyler Perdziak, Isabella and Noah Armstrong, Briana Alvarado, Sofia Alvarado-Ruiz, Jordy, Jacob, and Mae Tawil.

Catherine was a strong, determined, kind, and generous soul who would give the shirt off her back to anyone in need. She had a love in Chuck (James "Poppy" Kowalchuk) that had no equal. Theirs was a love story that rivaled "The Notebook!" She is now at peace on Poppy's boat on a lake up in heaven having a cocktail!

The family would like to thank Father Thomas and St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church.

Services will be held at Colonial Funeral Home, 625 Kitty Hawk Rd, Universal City, TX 78148 on September 12th and 13th.

The viewing will be held on Thursday September 12th for the family at 4pm and for the public at 5pm. Funeral on September 13th at 10am at Colonial Funeral Home and 11:30am at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery Shelter #4. Reception to follow at 12:30pm at Colonial Funeral Home.

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