SJU Grad, 37, Passes After Brave Battle With Lung Cancer

Obituary courtesy William Moore Funeral Home.

NORRISTOWN, PA — Kathryn “Katie” E. (Curran) Buek, age 37 of Norristown and formerly Plymouth Meeting, died on Wednesday, June 28th, 2016, surrounded by her family, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, after a courageous and inspiring battle with lung cancer.

Katie was born in Abington on February 21, 1979 daughter of Gerald W. and Marybeth (Mountain) Curran. She was the beloved wife of Christopher R. Buek for 11 years. Katie was raised in Plymouth Meeting attending Norwood Academy Preschool and Epiphany of Our Lord Grade School.

She was a 1996 graduate of Gwynedd Mercy High School. Katie graduated from Penn State University in 2000 with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She attended graduate school at St. Joseph University earning her Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration in 2006.

She was employed by Central Montgomery County MHMR, HUP Health System, Pennsylvania Hospital and most recently Nazareth Hospital. Katie was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable lung cancer 7 years ago. Katie, her family and the HUP Healthcare team lead by Dr. Tracy Evans fought tirelessly, essentially beating the odds of a 5 year prognosis by 2 years and three months. Through the course of her difficult battle, Katie adopted Wonder Woman as her totem of strength, courage, beauty, and resolve, and to all who knew her, she will forever be synonymous with the Amazon warrior princess.

Katie loved all things to do with her family, and sharing every possible moment with her husband. She had an enduring love for musical theater, terrible TV shows, and, most of all, books. She is survived by: 2 brothers, Sean (Paige) of Doylestown, and David (Paula) of Norristown; 3 sisters, Rebecca (Vincent) Minei of Philadelphia, Patti (Jamal) Griffin of Norristown, and Mo (Mike) Adgie of Ambler; 11 nieces, Gianna, Adrianna, Zoe, Hannah, Alabama, Katie, Rayna, Mary, Wren, Kaiya, and Emmy; 2 nephews, John and Archer. Katie was predeceased by her brother, Tim.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Katie’s memory may be made to the Abramson Cancer Center at their website; www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/giving.