Tributes

Alice “Kitty” Hernandez – daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, granny, boss, mentor, friend, role model and of course, one heck of a Spurs fan – made her final “transformation” from this earth on Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at the age of 83. Kitty was born July 27th, 1937 in San Antonio, TX. Anyone who knew Kitty, knew her fondness for birthday celebrations. And in true Kitty-fashion, she left this earth on a high-note after celebrating her 83rd birthday with a full-blown parade, complete with friends, family, obnoxious honking and fire trucks (not just one but THREE). She leaves behind the most loving and loyal husband of 65 years, Roy B. Hernandez; three beautifully devoted children and their spouses, Ric and Carmen, Kathy and Judy, and Angie and Zeke; eight extraordinary grandchildren and four spirited great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Richard and Rudy and two angels Little Roy and Patricia. Kitty had many careers during her life and she loved telling stories about each and every one. From a secretary at Immaculate Heart of Mary to a manager at JC Penney’s, Kitty spent her younger years building quite the collection of skills. Kitty and Roy also loved serving the lord, and found many ways to do just that, including their involvement in the Cursillo Movement. After their children where grown, they gave up their home to an immigrant family and moved into Saint Peters and Joseph’s Children’s Home to be house parents. Kitty’s love for this work only grew and after several years, they transitioned to Texas Cradle Society to serve as house parents for young pregnant women. Years later, Kitty continued telling stories about her time here with such emotion – she truly had a servant’s heart. Then, in 1984, always looking for the next challenge, Kitty and Roy decided to move to Alaska (yes Alaska…from Texas)! While unbeknownst at the time, this decision would become one of the most pivotal moments in Kitty’s life. In Alaska, she and Roy began working at Hope Cottages, a non-profit organization that served children with special needs. She fell in love. Instantly and completely. With the work, with the mission, with the children. 3 years later, when Roy & Kitty moved back to San Antonio, they began the process of opening their own company to continue this imperative work for their home-community. In the upstairs attic of their home on Intrigue, and the story of the butterfly to guide their way, R&K Specialized Homes, Inc. was born. Who could’ve imagined that the decision to move to Alaska (yes, ALASKA) would lead to the creation of one of San Antonio’s most recognized companies in the industry, growing to a network of 16 homes and 100 residents. Of course, to Kitty, R&K was never work. Each client was someone she respected and loved unconditionally. Even after she and Roy retired in 2008, they never stopped their efforts to make an impact in the lives of the R&K family. What’s more, R&K is still going strong and in October 2020, the company will celebrate 30 years of services. The passion that Kitty put into her work didn’t go unnoticed either and she was recognized often for her innovative efforts. The number of awards and honors that she earned in her lifetime are many…too many to recount in such a brief summary of her life. Most notably, Kitty served on the board of the Private Providers Association and was the “Woman Business Owner of the Year” in 2002. But anyone who knew Kitty can attest to the fact that she always accepted any award with her million-dollar smile, her to-the-nine suits and some form of “bling” and a hat for added flare. Kitty had a love for life. She loved the extravagance of a good time and knew how to celebrate with the best of them. Any holiday (and I mean ANY) was a perfect excuse to throw a party. And that party was not complete without matching decorations. Quite frankly, I’m pretty sure Kitty invented the Halloween Christmas Tree before it was a thing. Of course, there was also the reserved and pensive side to Kitty. She loved her quiet time especially when it involved a good book (usually a murder mystery). Sometimes she’d read three or four different books at a time. She also had a love for journaling. She’d often start journals for her grandchildren, passing on advice, life lessons and words of love. A few times, she even started writing her own eulogy (no one was ever able to find those particular journal entries…go figure)! With so many memories to think about, I can’t tell you not to cry for Kitty. In fact, she would most likely want us to cry. She’d want us to mourn and to recognize her loss because that’s healthy (and let’s be honest, she loved the attention). But she’d also want us to smile. She’d want us to remember her and laugh. She’d want us to celebrate her life and everything she was. And in the end, Kitty got her greatest wish as she made her final transformation from this life. You see, she always had a fondness for butterflies. And in later years, the transformation of the butterfly served as her inspiration to continue growing. I can say with certainty that Kitty indeed earned her butterfly wings and is fluttering around now spreading smiles wherever she goes. Services will be held at Mission Park North, 3401 Cherry Ridge, San Antonio TX 78230. Visitation and viewing will be Sunday, August 9, 2020 from 5PM to 7PM. Funeral services will be Monday, August 10 at 11:45A.M. Rosary and funeral services will be live streamed from Kitty’s page at www.missionparks.com, where you can leave a message or memory; and we encourage everyone to stay safe. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in her memory to the San Antonio Food Bank or your local food pantry.

Tributes

Alice "Kitty" Hernandez

July 27, 1937 - August 1, 2020