Many of you know that I work at Bloomingsales. A cute little floral and women's boutique. Katy and one of her best friends Sonnie opened this little store over 20 years ago. She is one of the sweetest, strongest, and classiest ladies I have had the pleasure of knowing. I attended her funeral today along with all the other employees.
Below is her obituary which is describes her beautifully. She was an amazing person and will be greatly missed. I feel so lucky to work in a place where I enjoy everyone I work with; inluding my managers and bosses. I feel that a lot of people don't "enjoy" their jobs and I am so glad that I truly work with wonderful people.
Kathleen Phelan Culp was born July 3, 1947 in Los Angeles, California to Mervyn and Beatrice Phelan and died peacefully on November 30, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah surrounded by the warmth and loving comfort of her family. She left this world full of the grace, dignity, and poise that she so beautifully displayed throughout her life. Katy was raised in San Marino, California as one of seven children in a large and lively Irish Catholic family. She attended San Marino High School and later Dominican College in San Rafael, California. She then transferred to the University of Southern California and soon met Chas who would become the love of her life. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and received a B.A. in Education. Katy and Chas married shortly after her graduation in 1969. Katy and Chas moved to Salt Lake City where she immersed herself in the community. Katy became an active member in the Salt Lake City Junior League, and spent many rewarding years teaching at the Wasatch Presbyterian Church preschool, within the Salt Lake City School District, and as a beloved third grade teacher at Rowland Hall St. Mark's school. Katy, along with her partner, Sonnie Swindle, then co-founded Bloomingsales in 1984 where she quickly brought beauty and style to the community and continued to be a daily and impactful presence there until her death. While raising her two daughters, Sarah and Ellie, Katy passionately founded the Salt Lake City Community Health Information Center, co-founded the Salt Lake Cotillion, co-chaired a successful Rowland Hall St. Mark's school auction, became an advisory board member at Red Butte Garden, a board member at the Salt Lake Town Club, and a board member for the 2010 American Cancer Society Hope Gala. Katy was a very devout Catholic who took comfort and found strength in her faith. She spent many volunteer hours at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and cherished the beauty and tranquility of the children's choir of The Madeleine Choir School. Until her death, Katy's first priority was always her family and friends. Chas was her number one fan, her constant companion and partner, and her rock. She was a loyal friend who respected and treasured her many relationships. She enjoyed years of organizing family reunions and attending many family-friend gatherings, including memorable trips to Sun Valley, Idaho and La Jolla, California. She always looked forward to spending time on the beach of her adopted Del Mar, California and on the shores of the Kohala Coast, Hawaii where she was happiest under the shade of an umbrella with her husband, doing a crossword puzzle with her daughters, and watching her grandchildren play in the surf. She was an incredibly elegant, caring and generous woman who exhibited grace and humility to all. We will greatly miss our wife, our mother and our Nini but she will live on in our hearts and will walk beside us with her everlasting beauty and style. Katy was a devoted and loving wife to husband Chas, a generous and supportive mother to daughters Sarah Cusumano (Mark) and Ellie Gail (Pete), and a spirited and doting grandmother to her three grandsons, Andrew, Jack and Jimmy. She was also a dedicated and compassionate sister to her six siblings Mary DeGroodt (Harlan), Mervyn Phelan (Sharon), Nancy Kerckhoff (Darry d. 2010), Susie Wagner (John), Tom Phelan (Candy) and Ryan Phelan (Stewart Brand). All of the above survive her as well as her 21 nieces and nephews, and her loving retriever, Barley. The family would like to extend its gratitude to Dr. Jack Taylor, Dr. Wallace Akerley, Dr. Randy Jensen, Dr, Dennis Shrieve, Terry Van Duren, and all of her many caregivers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Medical Center, and here at home. A memorial mass for Katy will be conducted on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 11:00a.m. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City. A celebration of her life and a reception following the service will be hosted at The Country Club, 2400 Country Club Drive, Salt Lake City. A private interment will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Katy's name can be addressed to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation at 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, Red Butte Garden at 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, and The Madeleine Choir School, 205 First Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.
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