Catherine Marie Van Milligen (nee Wojtowicz), age 55, of Kennesaw, Ga passed away surrounded by family in her home after a long battle with colon cancer on Friday, January 1, 2021.
She was born November 30, 1965 in Los Angeles, California to Barbara Simon. At the age of 2 she moved to Illinois where she spent the remainder of her childhood. She graduated from Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois in 1983 and from College of DuPage in 1989 with an associate degree in medical records. She met her future husband Jeff Van Milligen in 1991 and the two married on November 20, 1993.
Her biggest dream in her life was to become a mother. This dream came true for her when she gave birth to three beautiful children, two boys (Colin and Braeden) and a girl (Emmy). Her children were her number one priority, and she dedicated her whole life to them. She enjoyed volunteering to support her children including volunteering in the Awtrey Middle School library ad in the religious education office at Transfiguration Catholic Church.
She was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2015 and fought against the disease for nearly six years, determined to spend as much time with her family as she could. Her strength and perseverance throughout her battle with cancer was an inspiration to everyone around her. Her smile and laugh were infectious and loved by all. These traits remained with her until her final days.
She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Jeff and their three children: her daughter, Emmy and her sons, Colin and Braeden; her mother, Barbara Simon; brother, Michael Pieper; sister, Genna Wojtowicz; 7 cousins and 10 nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her brother Ken Wojtowicz and grandparents Catherine Bidwell and Walter Simon.
Family, friends and others whose lives Catherine touched are invited to attend her funeral at Transfiguration Catholic Church at 2 p.m. on January 23, 2021. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society in her honor. Catherine’s loving heart and kind soul will stay in our hearts forever and never be forgotten.
