Catherine J. "Cathy" Kanski-Chaney

Catherine J. “Cathy” Kanski-Chaney (Miller), 53, of Davenport, Iowa and formerly of Detroit, Michigan, died Friday, February 19, 2010 at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus, Davenport after a courageous 3 ½ year battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, February 22, 2010 at Bettendorf Presbyterian Church in Bettendorf, where she was employed for several years as Christian Education/Children’s Ministry Director. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Churches United, or Bettendorf Presbyterian Church for youth group programs.
Cathy was born May 4, 1956 in Detroit, the beloved daughter of Anthony M. & Bernadine J. (Bartnik) Kanski. She was united in marriage to Brian C. Chaney in Davenport in 1998. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Macomb Community College in Michigan and Scott Community College and St. Ambrose College in Davenport.
She was very proud of her two years of classes to complete her Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Center for Ministry Development at St. Ambrose University. Cathy was involved with children and youth starting as a teenager, teaching religious education classes and being a founding member of YCM, a youth group in Detroit. She also worked two summers as head of an inner city summer program in Detroit and spent one summer as a camp counselor for 12-13 year-old girls in Michigan. This was the first and only time anyone saw Cathy with an actual suntan.
She continued her work with children and youth after moving to Davenport. She then volunteered for friends of new parents and visited new moms with infants. She worked at John F. Kennedy School as a fill-in in the lunchroom kitchen and also as an assistant in the religious education department of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church where she and her children were members.
Most recently, Cathy worked as the Christian Education/Youth Minister and Children’s Ministry Director as Bettendorf Presbyterian Church. She was also a full-time substitute teacher at Ladybug Preschool at the church.
Her greatest joy was children and youth of all ages. She looked forward each year to attending mission trips with the middle school and high school youth of the church. She had attended over ten missionary trips from Iowa to Buffalo, New York. She also helped to demolish homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Above all else, Cathy’s family was the love of her life. She always placed her husband, Brian and her children, Jordan and Deven before herself. She always had a smile and hug for everyone she met. She would routinely give things to strangers. There were many times where a stranger would compliment her on her earrings, etc and she would give them to them. She was very artistic and loved crocheting blankets, and making crafts and gifts for family and friends. Cathy was loved by many and will always be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, daughter and great friend.
Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Brian; her daughter Deven (Michael) Langfeldt, of Davenport; her son, Jordan Miller of Cleveland, Ohio; her mother, Bernadine Kanski of Clinton Township, Michigan; one grandchild that is expected soon; her sisters, Andrea (Bob) Skoczylas of Chesterfield, Michigan, Mary (Ken) Stanko, of Clawson, Michigan and Therese (Rob) Conti of St. Clair Shores, Michigan; her brother, David (Elaine) Kanski of Chesterfield; seven nieces; one nephew; and five great-nieces and nephews.
Cathy was preceded in death by her father, Anthony in 1995; and two infant daughters.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Cathy’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.
She’ll stay with you
As long as the wind blows
She’ll always be in your heart
She didn’t leave you all alone
She has eternal life
Her spirit is always within you
And if the sun shines in the sky
And rain should fill the air
And a rainbow lights up your day
Know that she is there
-Karli McKinnon, age 10