Betty Jo Cantees Kawaja LEXINGTON, Ky. — Betty Jo Cantees Kawaja, wife of Louis Kawaja of 46 years, passed away Sat., Dec. 7, 2013, at St. Joseph Hospital. Born May 27, 1947, in Williamson, she was a daughter of the late Abe and Hazel Dawhare Cantees. She was preceded in death by a brother, Ron Cantees. She was a wonderful wife, mom, and grandmother. Betty worked many years at Dawahare’s as an assistant manager and manager at the Gardenside and Fayette Mall stores.
Additional survivors include two sons, A.L. Kawaja III and Joe Kawaja, both of Lexington; daughter, Jessica (Todd) Bergin of Irvine, Calif.; four grandchildren, Ben and Emma Kate Kawaja and Maddie and Parker Bergin; brother, Joe Cantees of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; sister, Mary Lou (Sam) Clymer of Melbourne, Fla.; brother-in-law, Colin Berry; four nieces, Kathy Thacker, Christy Coffman, Courtney Fowler and Tricia Rogers; three nephews, Sam Clymer IV, and Justin and Derrick Cantees; four great-nieces, Falon Kiser, Paige Thacker, Selma Coffman, and Emily Cantees; three great-nephews, Trey Coffman, Everett Fowler and Jackson Cantees; special friend and caregiver, Penny Houlihan; as well as Dr. Michael Horn and the staff at the John D. Cronin Cancer Center and Karen Mulholland, the 6th floor nursing staff, and other healthcare personnel for giving her excellent care; and Dr. Danny Corales and his staff. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wed., Dec. 11, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home of Harrodsburg Rd. by Jimmy Davis. Burial will follow in Lexington Cemetery.
Casket bearers will be Mark Dawahare, Justin Cantees, Serur Dawahare, Eddie Dawhare, Charles Eubanks, Jim Versaw, Reid Coffman, and Darryl Keener. Honorary bearers will be Colin Berry, Joe Dawahare, Dee Dawahare, Martin Dawahare, A.F. Dawahare, Jimmy Maggard, Billy Dixon, Dan Houlihan, Sam Clymer III and Ralph Coggin. Visitation will be from 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lexington Clinic Foundation for the John D. Cronin Cancer Center, 350 Elaine Dr., Ste. 100, Lexington, KY, 40504, amcda@lexingtonclinicfoundation.org or the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, One St. Joseph Dr., Lexington, KY 40502.
