Mary "Kathie" Ward

Mary Kathleen Ward (Kathie) was born on April 28, 1947, in the city of San Diego, California, to her loving parents, Frank and Marguerite Caso. As the second of five children, Kathie enjoyed a lively and nurturing childhood, forming a particularly close bond with her older sister, Peggy, who would become a lifelong confidante.

Kathie’s education began at St. John of the Cross Elementary School, where her love for learning took root. She later attended Rolando Park Elementary and graduated from Horace Mann Junior High before completing her high school education at Crawford High School in 1965. During these formative years, she developed a passion for teaching, which would later reflect in the way she nurtured her own children.

Her life took a delightful twist when, unexpectedly, on a date with someone else, Kathie met the love of her life. The spark between them was immediate and their love story quickly blossomed into marriage. Trading city lights for country mornings, Kathie set aside her teaching dreams and poured her heart into farm life. Together with her husband, Dave, she raised three incredible kids (Theresa, Joe and Jen), finding joy in everyday moments even while carrying the quiet grief of two little angels who left too soon.

Anyone who knew Dave knew he was a prankster. Early in their relationship at a game night with Peggy and Bob, Kathie had a feeling something wasn’t right in their game of Monopoly. She figured out that Dave and Bob had ganged up on her and Peggy, buying everything they could and plotting against the girls. She quickly packed up the game to never play Monopoly again. Not even when her kids came along and wanted to play with them. She refused to play with a cheater (Dave). He also infamously teased her once that she didn’t know how to make pancakes, and she never made them again. Ever. She had to wake Jen up when she was in high school to have Jen make pancakes for breakfast.

Kathie was a woman of remarkable creativity and talent, known for her artistic flair. She took great joy in handcrafting her children's clothes when they were young and as they grew and she was working she would make special occasion items, including beautiful prom dresses that showcased her unique craftsmanship and love.

Kathie lost her husband unexpectedly. With strength and determination, she returned to San Diego and found a job washing dishes at Cajon Valley Union School District’s Central Kitchen. Her perseverance and work ethic propelled her up the ranks, leading her to become the Supervisor over the course of her career. Known for never taking a sick day, Kathie was infamous for her dedication, often being the first person to arrive and the last to leave. Kathie started a part time job with Theresa, both working at Jack Murphy Stadium during Padres and Chargers games, as well as various stadium events. She took on the extra work to help provide for her family until she promoted up at Cajon Valley.

Summers were a cherished time for Kathie, often spent alongside her mother, sister, children, and her three nephews. Joe especially loved the summer traditions since he was able to hang out with his cousins and escape the girls. They created lasting memories on trips to Fiesta Island, Balboa Park for the museum “free” days, and the occasional Padre game and went to celebrate the Padres making it all the way to the World Series in 1984.

As she embraced the role of grandma to four granddaughters, Kathie found immense joy in being an active presence in their lives and traveling to celebrate big moments in all four girls’ lives. After she retired, she moved closer to Theresa and her girls, never missing a concert or school event. As the girls became more active in 4-H and a Foods project, Kathie was able to pull her knowledge of food safety and cooking to help lead the 4-H group, normally teaching the younger group of kids how to follow a recipe and use a knife safely.

On May 4, 2025, Mary Kathleen Ward passed away, surrounded her family. She was preceded in death by her husband Dave and her cherished parents. Kathie leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and resilience, as she is survived by her children, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, siblings, and their families. Her vibrant spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her, carrying her memory forward in their hearts.

A funeral mass will be held at 10am on Friday May 16, 2025, at St Luke’s Catholic Church, 1980 Hillsdale Rd, El Cajon, CA. Graveside Service will be held after mass at 11:45 am at Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 4470 Hilltop Dr, San Diego, CA. A reception will be immediately after burial at St Luke’s. A memorial mass will also be held May 21, 2025, at 6pm at St Anthony’s Catholic Church, 7820 Fox Road Hughson, CA.