Obituary of Cathy Reifert

CATHY  SALAS  REIFERT, 31, of the Carrollwood Pinnacle/Tampa, was hit and killed in a tragic auto/ pickup truck manslaughter/ homicide on a quiet Saturday morning August 29, 2020 on Lynn Rd. right outside The Pinnacle where we lived.  Cathy is survived by her husband, Robert G Reifert, her parents Belen & Santiago Salas and brother Calvin Salas of Gingoog City, in the Philippines. Cathy also has many beloved aunties and uncles in the Philippines as well, as well as Auntie Kory in Canada.

 

Cathy arrived the USA with a K1 visa on April 9, 2015 and married Robert 67 days later on June 18, 2015 in the county courthouse. After a brief honeymoon and three month vacation period, it was time to get down to work, to support her family back home, and Cathy took her first job as an attendant at a laundromat, and babysat for a closeby family.  

 

It was not long before we landed Cathy a job at Tampa International Airport as a skycap for G2, and then a second job as an Attendant for Bags, Inc. at the Rental Car Center at the airport.  After a couple years of working two part time jobs , Cathy had her sights set on being a ticketing agent, and was flown to Seattle WA for training and testing with Alaska airlines , but was not selected. So she persisted in her dream and finally became a ticketing agent for Lufthansa Airlines in Tampa in June 2019.

Cathy's other dream was to build a house for her family back in the Philippines, and that dream was started in 2019 , and remains to be finished. A friend of Cathy's and I committed to finish and furnish that house for her parents. It's a beautiful two level 5 bedroom / 2 bath right on the Gingoog Bay.

 

Cathy was a very popular and hard worker at Tampa International Airport and was extremely well liked by all her co-workers. a special mention of her close friends Friday, Florence , and Leonel are deserved. Many contributed to the GoFundMe to help send Cathy back home to the PHilippines for her final resting place. We appreciated all !!

 

One of the happiest days of Cathy's life occurred on July 28, 2020 shortly after her 31st birthday. After several attempts to pass the written test for her Florida Learner's License, she finally passed !! and the day she came home with her Photo ID FL driver's license,  she was ecstatic !! 

Cathy was also a dedicated thrift store shopper and spent every Monday morning shopping at the Life Treasures thrift store on Gunn Hwy. She sent many jumbo balikbayan boxes back to the Philippines over the five years, and we sent 8 more boxes after her passing.

 

Cathy's favorite eating spots were The Saigon Deli, Chipotle mexican grill, and Panda Express.  We ate out a lot because she was working double shifts, and was so tired after work. Cathy rode the county bus many times to and from work, when I was unable to provide her with rides, which I did countless times at all hours of the day and night.

 

Cathy's last trip to the Philippines was cancelled by Covid in March 2020, so her last time home was Christmas of 2018. Her family has requested we return Cathy home for life celebration and burial in her hometown Gingoog city.  So that request has been honored and Cathy is departing Tampa for the Philippines soon. 

 

Cathy will be missed most of all her best friend, her mother Belen and her Papa Tiago whom she adored , and by all who knew her and loved her so much!! Love you Babe!!

 

The family requests and any other donations be made to the GoFundMe at the link here: 

Let's bring Cathy home to the Philippines

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cathy Reifert, please visit Tribute Store