Catherine Sophia LOPEZ (Gleeson)

January 14, 1951 – January 12, 2026

Catherine “Katie” Sophia Gleeson was born January 14, 1951, in Duluth, Minnesota and was the second child and only daughter of Michael Joseph Gleeson and Catherine Friis Odegard. Losing her mother to cancer at the age of 15 and her father to heart failure at the age of 18, Katie faced significant life events that would shape a life of strength and resilience before she even graduated from East High School in 1969. Katie fondly referenced Duluth as “home” and maintained high school friendships her entire life, including her fellow Chester Park Girls. One high school friend, who joined the United States Navy and was in basic training, introduced Katie to a fellow serviceman originally from Hagonoy, Bulucan, Philippines and asked her to be the fellow serviceman’s pen pal to help him improve his English. After four years of building a relationship through writing, Marcial “Mar” Felipe Lopez and Katie met each other in Montreal, Canada; they married November 6, 1971, in Duluth.

Becoming a military spouse began the next phase of Katie’s life of strength and resilience and she fulfilled her support role like a champion. She mothered two children, Anna Marie and Anthony Marcial, held jobs as a bookkeeper or in a bowling alley, and endured the sometimes single-parent nature of what it means to be a dutiful spouse to a Navy husband often out to sea for extended periods and moving to new cities every three years. Their duty stations included Jacksonville, Florida (Cecil Field, Naval Station Mayport, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville); Long Beach, California; Centerville, California; and Pensacola, Florida. In the early years, Katie fully and actively supported Mar’s sponsorship of his father, mother, and nine of his 10 brothers and sisters coming to the United States to experience the American Dream. Katie personally fought to ensure the successful migration of the Lopez family, helped them build their roots, and embraced them as her own.

Katie had a gift for writing and wrote letters to friends and family every day. Her annual Christmas letter was a significant production and had a lengthy distribution list; she kept the United States Post Office in business. Katie took crafting to a new level, as evidenced by an overflowing craft room. From Artex and macrame in the 70s to painting by number in 2025; the in between included quilting, sewing, crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, stamping, card making, floral arrangements, scrapbooking, and more. Katie treasured her coffee, the act of giving thoughtful gifts, and the dogs in her life (Sasha, Bandit, General, Tac, Freckles, and Koti). She showed her love through cooking and baking; Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday, and her specialty was the dressing. Katie enjoyed reading Stephen King and James Patterson novels. She loved watching Jeopardy and tennis; she cheered on the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and her favorite Minnesota Vikings. Katie’s life was filled with travel experiences, whether cruising or taking long road trips. For much of her time, you could find her bowling in multiple leagues per week and competing in tournaments primarily in the Southeast region. Above all interests, Katie loved and was sustained by family, both near and far.

Katie was predeceased by Mar, the love of her life, in June 2020. Katie is survived by her two children, Anna Lopez Brosche (Dave) and Anthony Marcial Lopez (Regina); six grandchildren Justin, Jonathan, Dillon, Kaden, Gaven, and Rohan; and 8 great grandchildren. Katie is also survived by her brother, Michael Gleeson, and her nieces and nephew.

There will be no public service for Katie. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to either the Jacksonville Humane Society (jaxhumane.org) or the Foundation for Community Hospice and Palliative Care (thefoundationcares.org).