Katherine Damiano Stone, 85

Katherine Graves Damiano Stone went home to be with the Lord on June 29, 2025. Born in Pasadena, Calif., on Aug. 28, 1939, she spent her formative years in Boise, Idaho, before becoming Miss Boise and attending the University of Idaho in 1958. It was on the church steps in Moscow, Idaho, that she met the love of her life, Harold L. Damiano. They married Aug. 8, 1959, promptly moved to New York for Hal’s job, where their first daughter, Ann, was born, and then moved to Palo Alto, Calif., at the completion of his Merrill Lynch training. There, they welcomed two more children, Kerry (1961) and Philip (1966), before a business opportunity brought the young couple to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where they settled in to raise their family.

At just 7 years old, Katherine began singing publicly in recitals, theatrical roles and concerts. She loved to be onstage, and that was part of the impetus for going back to college as an empty nester to earn both her BA (Whitworth College) and master’s degree (AZ State University) in Vocal Performance. That, and she was passionate about learning, reading, and studying. An avid reader, Katherine embraced all genres, continuing to challenge herself to read complex texts, biographies, political news and history, and even the Wall Street Journal until she could no longer see.

As a woman of faith, Katherine loved her church family, having been a part of numerous congregations, including Coeur d’Alene Bible Church, Hayden Friends, Camelback Christian and Mountain View Presbyterian. She served in various ways, but her favorite was as an active member of the choir (who always had her music memorized!) and as a featured soloist. She would practice for three months just to perform one three-minute song!

Her love of continuing education took her all over the world, and one of her greatest pleasures was introducing her children and grandchildren to new experiences. Whether it was taking a tour to an exotic country, attending a Broadway play, or stopping at a weird roadside attraction that had her kids rolling their eyes, she was eager to explore the unfamiliar.

But her greatest love and highest priority was her family. A devoted wife and partner for over 55 years, Katherine nursed her husband through his cancer. She was a stay-at-home mom who never missed a swim meet, track meet, volleyball match, basketball game, recital, pageant or any special event that involved her children, and could be heard cheering them on in her distinctive operatic voice. An excellent seamstress, she made beautiful, award-winning costumes, and all during elementary school, her daughters proudly wore her original creations.

Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Harold Damiano, her second husband, Robert Stone, and her grandson, Kerry Noel Damiano. She is survived by her children, Ann Damiano (Phoenix, Ariz.), Kerry Damiano (Phoenix, Ariz.), Phil and Leslie Damiano (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho), her brother, Phil Graves (Peoria, Ill.), five nephews, six nieces, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

    Stone