Catarina Josephine “Katie” Smale
Catarina Josephine “Katie” Smale was 88 year old when she passed away on April 22 in Littleton. She was married to Albert Smale and died just before their 67th wedding anniversary.
Katie worked at the Woolworth in Leadville and helped her mother at Matilda’s Cafe. She also worked at her sister’s restaurant, Casa Blanca, and later opened her own restaurant in Salida called Samuelito’s.
In her off time, Katie enjoyed bowling, bingo, watching movies, spending time with her grandchildren, working with ceramics, going to casinos and walking among the aspen trees. She was also proud of her graduate equivalency degree (GED), her family said.
Katie was preceded in death by her parents Matilda and Ramon Martinez; brothers Nick, Arthur and Victor; and sisters Cleo and Dorothy.
She is survived by her husband; sister Mary Martinez; brother Ramon Martinez; children Matilda “Tillie” Goerdt, William “Bill” and Sam Smale; grandchildren Luke, Andrew and Josh Goerdt, William Jr., Amanda and Zach Smale, Daphne Marcet and Vicki Banks. She also had 12 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Katie chose to be cremated. Funeral services will be held May 5 at Freedom Funeral Home in Littleton at 2 p.m., followed by a celebration of life at 3:30 p.m.
