Katharina Zabawa

Katharina Katie Zabawa, 89, of Great Falls, a retired housekeeper, died of cancer on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at a local care facility.A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Katharina Katie was born September 29, 1922 to Nickolous and Barbara Wagner in Jimbolia, Romania. She married Wally Zabawa in Austria on February 24, 1948. They came to the United States in 1949. They lived in Valier, MT for a short time and then moved to Conrad, MT where she worked for Safeway. After Wally finished his apprenticeship as a plumber, they moved to Great Falls. She worked a short time for Safeway in Great Falls and then went to work for Cascade County Nursing Home where she later retired.She enjoyed cooking, playing cards, gardening, crocheting, sewing, and knitting. She really, really enjoyed spending time with Jim Christiaens at Holiday Barber Shop making many, many friends and sharing many laughs, and good times.Katie is survived by her son, John Zabawa, of Great Falls; daughter Helen Zuhoski of Great Falls; sisters Barbara Fitzpatrick of Valier, MT and Helene Gartner of Canada; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.She is preceded in death by her parents; a daughter Kathie Zabawa; her husband, and three brothers.