Kathleen Garduño passed away peacefully on March 16, 2017 surrounded by her family.

Known to many as 'Sissy', she was born in San Francisco, CA on June 17, 1950.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Shirley Garduño, her grandparents, Vicente and Piedad Garduño, and Leon and Adelaide Elliott, special uncle Emerson Garduño, special great-aunt Kate Smith, and best friend Janis Ariazi.

She grew up in Peñasco, NM and after moving to Tucson, AZ, attended and graduated from Sunnyside High School. Kathy, as she was known in school, was a licensed masseuse and esthetician for much of her life and lived in Santa Fe, NM for the past 25 years.

Sissy is survived by her sisters, Ramona (Raúl) Grijalva, Georgetta (Steve) Platt, Monica (Randy + ) Beus and Christina (Lorenzo) Hernandez.

She was a wonderful Tia to Adelita (Sol), Raquel and Marisa (Floyd) Grijalva, Unique (Urs), Chante and Domonique Platt (Matt), Tyler (Heather), Zachary (Janae) Beus, Taryn (Aaron) Stark and Bradyn Beus, Missy (Kyle) Steinbuch, Renzo and Natalie Hernandez, great-nieces Adelina Grijalva-Gómez, Abbey Beus, and Braelyn Steinbuch and great-nephews Raúl and Joaquín Grijalva-Gómez, Mathew Hernandez, Bridger Steinbuch, Floyd Thompson IV and Ely Beus.

She also leaves her canine companion Jasmine, and many friends, relatives and loved ones.

She was a loving sister and aunt who always worked hard and encouraged all young people in her path to do the same, whether it be in school or a job. She will be remembered for her great sense of humor, free spirit, zest for life, unfiltered opinions and her fierce love of family.

Additional services will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Friday, March 31, 2017 at St. Frances Cathedral, 231 Cathedral Place at 10a.m.

Her family wishes to thank all those who cared for her over the past 10 months, especially the 650 wing of Tucson Medical Center and the American Red Cross. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the American Red Cross of Southern Arizona, 2916 E. Broadway, or online at RedCross.org (please click the box to dedicate your gift in memory of Kathleen Garduño).