Agnes Genevieve Kowal

Agnes Genevieve Kowal, 89, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2022, in Reno, NV, after a healthy, active and successful life shared with family and friends. Agnes was a lovely woman who will be remembered by her family and friends as quiet, hardworking and smart. She was both playful and highly practical — truly an independent, spirited, and intelligent soul. Born on September 29, 1933, to Anton Cabala & Mary Zondlak Cabala, she was raised on a farm in Midland, MI, the youngest of eleven children. In her teens, she left the farm and moved to Chicago, IL, to live with her aunt’s family and work at their religious goods store. It was there, one fateful day in 1955, that she met a young man named Hank, who had started to come in to shop regularly. Hank, as it turns out, was more interested in Agnes than in the books and pencils he came in to buy. They fell in love, and married in 1956. They spent over 65 wonderful years of love and friendship together, raising a family of five children and enjoying a vast array of shared hobbies and pursuits. In 1957, Agnes and Hank made a big move across the country with a vision to raise their family in sunny California. They settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. There, Agnes spent their first phase of married life caring for and raising their five children, running the household, and being a supportive wife and partner. As a mother, she was steady and dedicated, always doing her best to help with each of the children’s varied needs, activities and pursuits. As a presence she was quiet, steady and strong. She also had a warmth that showed in her sweet, slightly mischievous smile. Agnes enjoyed showing her love for the family through cooking, crafting and baking. There were often fresh cookies, cakes, or the most delicious baked fruit pies in the house. A skilled and lifetime gardener, Agnes planted beautiful gardens of vegetables, fruit trees and flowers wherever the family lived. She enjoyed tending them and making good food for Hank and the kids from their bounty. Her gardens were always lovely and peaceful spaces to wander and play in. Agnes and Hank enjoyed a rich friendship and partnership throughout their lives together. They shared an avid love of sports, and enjoyed playing them together well into their eighties. Some of their favorites over the years were tennis, skiing, golf and bocce. They made time to play these together as regularly as they could, and shared their love of sports with their children, too. They always enjoyed the vibrant social groups composed of the friends they met while playing. Agnes was also a smart and fierce competitor, and anyone who squared up with her for a game of tennis or bridge could tell you so. She particularly enjoyed this aspect in bridge, and was an avid and excellent player throughout her life. In the 1970’s, Agnes and Hank relocated to Reno, NV, where Agnes continued to raise the children. In the 1980’s, as the children were getting older, Agnes made a powerful second act for herself and went into Real Estate. She was quick to earn her license and be picked up by a local firm. With her sharp mind, strong work ethic, and helpful disposition, Agnes was a natural. Over time, she built an enjoyable and very successful Real Estate career. When all five children were fully raised and had graduated college, Agnes tapered her Real Estate career and joined her husband in retirement. They moved to Truckee, CA, to enjoy the sports and outdoors there full time. Soon they also found a winter residence in Tucson AZ. They enjoyed summers in the beautiful Sierra Nevada and winters in sunny Arizona for the rest of their time together. They had a wonderful life. Agnes was predeceased by her husband Henry, all her siblings, and her daughter Karen. Agnes is survived by her children Ken, Dave, Denise, and Janet, and grandchildren Katie & Betsy. A private Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Truckee, CA in the late Spring. The Rite of Committal and burial will be at Truckee Cemetery. She will be in our hearts always.

Tributes

Agnes Genevieve Kowal

September 29, 1933 - December 21, 2022