Refugia "Katie" Petrick

When reflecting on the life of Refugia “Katie” Petrick, one word that seems to stand out when describing her character is the word strength. She was an independent woman who took each challenge that came to her and faced it head on. Katie was a compassionate and generous woman who was always looking for a way in which she could lighten the load of another. She was a bit “old school” when it came to her cooking and the feasts she prepared were certainly unmatched. Katie worked hard to provide her children with the needed essentials, but she gave them so much more than that. She provided them with character training and lessons in life that just cannot be bought. It is those qualities and lessons that will live on in the generations to come.

During the year 1920 America was emerging from a decade of struggle not only due to WWI, but also from dealing with issues such as immigration, child labor laws, and monopoly battles as well. What was on the horizon, however, was a decade that became known as the “Roaring Twenties.” This was a time rich in culture and prosperity when the spirit within Americans was one of optimism and promise. The year 1920 was an exciting one as well for Gregorio and Hilaria (Vega) Medina as it was during this year that they welcomed their daughter, Refugia, on August 3rd into their home in Darwin, Texas. Refugia was one of the middle children out of ten in her family, and her father worked as a seasonal farmer. Their family relocated to Michigan, settling first in Fowler and then in St. Johns. Refugia, who later became known as Katie, never received a formal education by attending school, but her life experiences provided her with more knowledge than most are able to achieve in a classroom.

There were big changes in store for Katie during the mid-sixties when she became a single mother of what would be a total of four children including Mary Ann, Patricia, Daniel, and Gregory. Katie settled with her children into an apartment in St. Johns and when her health required open heart surgery, her children spent time with relatives while she recovered. Katie took a job in housekeeping at Clinton Memorial Hospital located in St. Johns where she worked for 28 years. It was there that she first became known as Katie among her coworkers. She walked the two miles to work and back on many days. In fact, Katie walked most everywhere in her coordinated outfits - complete with a matching hat.

In many ways, Katie was an extraordinary mother who cared for her family to the best of her ability. She was “old school” when it came to feeding her family as she believed that the men should eat first which was the custom during her farming days. Katie loved to cook just about anything and everyone absolutely loved her Mexican food. She even made tamales by hand every Christmas for a special treat. Katie taught her children valuable lessons in compassion, humor, and strength not so much by her words, but by the life she lived. She worked hard at her job, came home after working a full day and then making the journey home, and then promptly prepared a big meal for her family as only she could.

There were so many things that made Katie such a special lady to so many others. It seemed she was always looking for an opportunity to serve others whether for gatherings such as weddings or funerals, or helping others in their home or in hers. Katie always wanted to look her best and her coordinating outfits often combined either red with black or gold with black which created a look that was all her own. She loved to dance and listen to her son Greg’s band play as often as she could. Katie could be opinionated when it came to subjects she felt passionate about and she was never shy about speaking her mind either!

Life became more challenging for Katie after she suffered a stroke in 1998. From that point on, she was never quite the same. Katie was greatly affected by her stroke as she no longer desired to walk or cook.

Refugia “Katie” Petrick was a vibrant woman who breathed so much life into the world around her. Although she worked hard at her job with the hospital, she viewed her role as a homemaker to be of the utmost importance. Katie had a warm heart and compassionate spirit that was easy to see by the way in which she lived her life each and every day. She was a proud woman who even in her death wouldn’t want anyone crying about her absence. Instead Katie would want her family and friends to hold fast to their memories of her while her spirit continues to live on in their hearts. She will be deeply missed.

Refugia “Katie” Petrick died on November 3, 2009 in St. Johns, Michigan. Katie’s family include her two daughters, Mary Ann (Joe) Villarreal and Patricia Cram; two sons, Daniel (Julia) Petrick and Gregory (Germaine) Petrick, all from St. Johns; her grandchildren, Kevin (Tillie) and Darrin Villarreal, Angela Garza, Clarissa Cram, Autumn and Adyn Petrick, Peter Daniel Petrick and Tawnie (Michael) Paullus; great grandchildren, Anthony Garza, Dominique Villarreal, Ahdya Paullus, Anya Paullus and Michael Paullus Jr.; as well as her four sisters, Julia Laycock, San Juanita Smith, Otilila Beebee, and Maria Elena Villarreal. Katie was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Pauline Diaz, Hilaria Medina, and Dionicia Rositas; and her two brothers, Natividad Medina Sr. and Miguel Medina. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, November 6, 2009 at the Osgood Funeral Home with burial following at Mt. Rest Cemetery, Pastor David Hudgens will be officiating. The family will receive friends, Thursday, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a rosary prayed at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory or photo, sign her memory book, or make a memorial contribution to the Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor or Clinton Memorial Hospital Foundation.