Kitten and Bednarz Endowments

The Catholic Foundation Celebrates the Legacy of Raymond George Kitten-Lorena Steffens Kitten and William Leonard Bednarz-Irma Macha Bednarz
 
Both of these families were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Slaton as well as long-time farmers. The Kittens moved to Slaton in 1916 and the Steffens moved in 1928. Ray and Lorena married November 26, 1931 at St. Joseph Church.  The family remembers the wedding actually taking place in a school building because the church had been damaged in a wind storm.  They had four children, Elizabeth (Betty) Jo, Mary Lou, Shirley and Kenneth.  The family farmed west of Slaton until Ray retired, and continued to live on the farm that Ray’s father purchased in the early 1900s.  Ray was born September 17, 1911 and passed away October 26, 1996 at age 85. Lorena was born July 1, 1910 and passed away October 16, 1986 at the age of 76.
 
The Bednarz family moved to Slaton in 1920 and the Macha family moved to New Home in 1917. Willie and Irma were married in 1937 in St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Lubbock. They were the first couple to marry in this newly built Catholic Church at that time.  They had three children, Eugene, William Jr., and Jeannette. Both Willie and Irma were very devout Catholics who raised their children with the same strong faith.  Irma was born January 27, 1916 and passed away March 4, 2003 at the age of 87. Willie was born September 5, 1912 and passed away April 9, 2002 at the age of 90.
 
Their children, Eugene and Shirley Bednarz, chose to honor their parents by establishing two endowments with the Catholic Foundation of South Plains, Inc. in each of their parents’ names.  The Raymond George Kitten-Lorena Steffens Kitten Endowment and the William Leonard Bednarz-Irma Macha Bednarz Endowment were established in 2006.  Thus today we celebrate the Legacy of these families including Eugene and Shirley, as well as many others who have given so generously to the Catholic Foundation.
 
The Legacy Society for the Catholic Foundation allows individuals to leave a permanent gift or legacy for the future of the Diocese of Lubbock.  Options include Endowments, Wills, Annuities, and Life Insurance Policies whereby the gift can benefit a Ministry at the Diocese, a Parish, a School or even left as an unrestricted gift for the Foundation.  All funds are permanently invested with a professional financial company whose decisions are made to provide the best possible return for The Catholic Foundation. 
 
For more information on establishing an Endowment and/or including The Catholic Foundation in your Will, please contact Tricia Vowels, Managing Director, at 806-777-2089 or [email protected].