Caterina (Kitty) Piccagli, 85, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side, on October 21, 2021. She was born November 23, 1935 in Mantova, Italy, and grew up in this small northern Italian town. There she met the love of her life, Ugo, in grade school, and from that moment on, life changed.
They married 60 years ago, on June 3, 1961, and because of his occupation in heavy civil construction, they moved througho ut the world. From Italy to France to North Africa to Montreal, and ultimately ending up in Dallas in 1969. Throughout these travels, Kitty raised a family of 3 boys, Paul, Max and Lawrence. She was the pillar of the family, always providing for her boys and giving them the very best upbringing possible. Kitty was fluent in many languages and wanted to make sure her boys learned the same so that one day it would come to good use for their future travels. Education and faith were two of Kitty's greatest traits that she instilled in her family. In their travels, Kitty and Ugo fell in love with Santa Fe, NM, and spent 40 wonderful years at their home there, doing some of the things she enjoyed so much: playing tennis, gardening, hiking with her group in Tesuque, foraging for wild mushrooms in the forest and mountains, skiing in the winter and spending time with their many friends.
Kitty was an amazing cook, who had the abilities of a master chef, while never really following a recipe. She crafted the greatest northern-Italian cuisine that Dallas, Texas, ever tasted! She was adamant to teach her boys how important it was to be able to cook good food for your family and friends, and we are forever indebted to her for this! Kitty, or Nonna, as she so affectionately became known, was blessed with 7 grandkids and, most recently, a great-granddaughter, named after her, Stori. Kitty loved taking care of her grandchildren, especially when they spent the weekends together. She took them on trips and taught them all how life should be lived. She never spared an expense for her grandchildren; they meant the world to her.
Kitty is survived by her loving husband Ugo, her son Max, and son Lawrence and daughter-in-law Stacy; her grandchildren Charlotte, Paul, Molly, Estee, Penelope, Alex, Henry; great-granddaughter Stori; her sister Maria Teresa and brother-in-law Claudio; nephews Andrea and Francesco; sister Florenziana; nephew Mendes Minelli and nephew Giorgio Piccagli. Kitty was preceded in death by her beloved son Paul, her mother Angiolina and father Antonio, and her brother Gianni. The family is deeply indebted and grateful to Aida Lorenzana, Tabita Ruiz, Carmen Villafuerte, and Celia Rojas for their devoted and loving care.
A service will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 26, at 10am. Family will receive friends from 9:00 am until service time. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored by contributions in Kitty's name to the Alzheimer's Association or the Paul Piccagli Memorial Fund at St. Mark's School of Texas.
