Kate Knego Barbora, 102, of Watsonville passed away peacefully on November 22, 2006 in Hollister.
Kate was born February 28, 1904 in Donji, Brgat, Croatia. She was the eldest and the last surviving of eleven children born to Frano Knego and Mare Borovic Knego. She immigrated from Croatia and arrived in New York on November 11, 1923. After arriving in Watsonville to live with her aunt and uncle, Pete and Kate Knego, she met and married Raymond Barbora on November l6, 1924 at St. Patrick’s Church.
Along with being a loving wife, mother to three daughters, grandmother and friend, she was a homemaker in every sense of the word. She kept an immaculate home, was a fantastic cook, canned, gardened, raised chickens and continued to do this until a fall stopped her at the age of 98. Kate had incredible wisdom, was very witty and she was a great mimic. Her youthful spirit was appreciated by all that knew her. She will be missed and we will cherish our memories of her for all of our days.
Kate is survived by her devoted daughters, Helen McAbee of Hollister and Kay Payton of Watsonville; her grandchildren, Lynda Ariano and Janis McAbee of Salinas, Cathy Holdaway and Patti Long of Aptos and Richard McAbee Jr. of Hollister. She also leaves twelve great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband Raymond Barbora, her daughter, Mary Barbora and her son-in-law, Dick McAbee.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM, Monday, November 27th at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel in Watsonville. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1:00 PM at St. Patrick’s Church, Watsonville. Burial will follow at the family plot at Watsonville Catholic Cemetery.
The family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Assn. P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038, The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or the donor’s favorite charity.
