Katherine Lucille Medford

Katherine Lucille Medford, lovingly known as Kay, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2025. She was 101 years old. Born on December 16, 1923, in Omaha Nebraska to Antonio and Rosa DeFrenzo. Kay lived a long, fulfilling life defined by love, kindness, and an enduring spirit of generosity.

On April 10, 1943, Kay married the love her life, Delbert Lee Medford, in Bell, California. During WWII, she worked proudly in a “war plant”, earning a place among the “Rosie the Riveters” who helped shape history. Her hard work and saving allowed the young couple to buy their first house in Hollydale, CA. Before raising her children, she worked for a short time as a beauty operator. While her favorite job was as housewife and loving mother, she also worked part-time as an assistant for the family doctor and later, for many years in the school cafeteria. In their retirement years, the couple relocated to Hemet, CA.

Kay was blessed with two children, Anita Gatter and Robert “Bob” Medford. She was a loving and active mother, becoming deeply involved with the PTA, the Campfire Girls and supporting Bob in Little League and other sports. She and Delbert enjoyed making sure both kids were cultured and got to see and experience new things on their frequent family trips to the local points of interest.

When grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren came along, her love and involvement expanded for them. She loved and adored all of them.

Kay loved to be busy and connect with people, she also valued giving back to the community and living a healthy lifestyle. One of her favorite activities was square dancing with Delbert. She was a skilled tailor and seamstress and made many beautiful dresses and shirts for their hobby as well as many dresses for her granddaughter. When not dancing, you could find Kay gardening, cooking delicious food with her homegrown vegetables, baking sweets, crafting, reading about someplace they were going to travel or spending time with her bible and devotions. She loved painting beautiful sceneries, and became quite skilled at decorating ornate wedding cakes. She loved to spend time with friends on the golf course or while camping with the trailer club, or with the Red Hats and other groups at church and clubhouse in Panorama Village. Somehow with all of these activities, she still found time to volunteer at the church and the food pantry. Perhaps her most favorite pastime was gathering her family together. She would welcome everyone with something she had freshly baked, a smile and a big hug. Her love for her family was immeasurable.

Katherine is survived by her brother P. Charles DeFrenzo, her loving children, Robert “Bob” Medford, Anita Gatter; her grandchildren, Kenneth (Barbie) Thomas, and Renee Thomas; her Great Grandchildren, Trevor Thomas, Tiffany Waite, Nicholas Bridges, Jessica Bridges; and her Great Great Grandchildren, Noah, Shamous, Braiden, Jayden, Liam, Parker, Paisley, Mabelle and Nash. She was greeted in heaven by her husband Delbert Medford and granddaughter Ashley Bridges and son-in-law Alan Gatter.

Services will be at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 26340 Soboba St, Hemet, California. Rosary will be said at 10:30, Mass at 11:00. Katherine will be laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery, with her Soul Mate, Delbert Lee Medford. This service will be held privately.