Katy J. Deen

Catherine "Katy" James Deen

April 23, 1945 – October 15, 2026

Catherine James Pavlidou, lovingly known as Katy James Deen, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. As she drew her final breaths, her loved ones sang the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” to her.

Earlier that day, Katy spoke her final words, “I know,” acknowledging the presence of her husband’s sister, Nancy Jacobson, who had come to support her journey Home.

Katy was born on April 23, 1945, in Piraeus, a suburb of Athens, Greece, to Helen (Goudouri) Pavlidou and James Paul Pavlides. A devout Evangelical Christian, her relationship with Jesus Christ was deeply personal and shaped by a spiritual inheritance passed down through generations. Her paternal grandfather, Pavlos Iakovos Pavlides, was a Christian minister and missionary in Asia Minor who served Armenian refugees through Near East Relief. Among his humanitarian efforts, he helped hundreds of young Armenian women escape harems and arranged for their passage to America. Martyred in 1921, he left a legacy of faith expressed through courageous service to others—a legacy that continued through the generations of his family.

In June 1967, Katy earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the American College of Athens. In 1968, she immigrated to the United States to continue her studies in social work at the University of Texas at Austin. It was there, through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, that she met her future husband, James (Jimmy) Robert Deen.

Katy and James married on August 14, 1971, in Piraeus, Greece. Their life together took them from Texas to California and eventually to Illinois, where they raised seven children. On January 29, 2005, the Lord called Jimmy home suddenly, and Katy continued to care for the family they had built together.

Though short in stature, Katy carried herself like the warrior and survivor she was. She was a storyteller and historian who loved sharing stories of Greece and her ancestors. She had strong opinions, whether they were requested or not, and a gift for making an impression. Driven and hardworking, she was also generous with her time, her resources, and her care for others.

Katy loved strong, dark coffee and the darkest chocolate she could find. She enjoyed quilting and crocheting, gardening and canning, homeopathic remedies, literature and folklore, classical music, and discussions about the End Times. She cherished slow mornings of reflection and prayer and loved singing Handel’s Messiah. A good steak after Sunday church was always welcome, and she frequently gambled with the interpretation of food expiration dates. She made Christmas cookies throughout December in quantities far beyond what one family could reasonably eat, always with others in mind, and baked her traditional Greek Easter loaf of tsoureki each year.

She also knew how to relax. She enjoyed watching NCIS and Walker, Texas Ranger while eating pistachios. Those who knew her well will remember her familiar expressions: “You know somethin’!,” “Forget you, Charlie,” “Bull in a china closet,” and “You’ve got a problem.” Riding with Katy on the highway could be an adventure of its own, particularly if you valued your life and wished she would check her blind spot. She was chronically late and often the last to leave, never quite ready to end a visit.

Throughout her life, Christian communities provided places of fellowship, worship, and spiritual connection across the countries and states she called home. These included the Evangelical Church of Piraeus in Greece, Believers’ Chapel in Dallas, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Austin, and Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto. In Illinois, her church life included Circle Evangelical Free Church in Oak Park; Calvary Temple, later known as Calvary Church, in Naperville; Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows and Glen Ellyn; and GracePointe Church in Naperville. Her faith was not merely a tradition she inherited, but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that sustained her through life’s suffering and joys.

Katy was passionate about children, education, wellness, healing, justice, prayer, and service. Her life reflected a deep concern for people and a conviction that faith should be lived out in practical ways.

She is survived by her seven children and their families: Dorothy Deen and her partner, Richard Gonzalez; Christina Burkett and her husband, Liam, and their children, Ian, Elise, and Chloe; David Deen and his wife, Amanda, and their children, Lydia and Zoey; Joshua Deen and his wife, Mary Ellen, and their children, Grace and Hannah; Priscilla Dean and her husband, Luke, and their children, Jack, Sarah, and Oliver; Joy Matteson and her husband, Robert, and their children, Elizabeth and Margaret; and Hope Williams and her wife, Jessika, and their child, August.

She is also survived by her younger brother, Pavlos Pavlides, and younger sister, Victoria Zupancic, along with Victoria’s husband, Thomas, and daughter, Heather. Her nieces and nephews through Pavlos include Elena, Iakovos, and Mary. She is also survived by her siblings-in-law, Nancy Jacobson and Ronald Deen.

Katy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Robert Deen; her parents, Helen (Goudouri) Pavlidou and James Paul Pavlides; her parents-in-law, Dorothy (Looney) Deen and James Jr. Deen; and her sister-in-law, Dina Pavlidou, who died on May 7, 2025.

Katy leaves behind a family shaped by her life, faith, her food, stories, and love. Her journey spanned countries and cultures, carrying the history of her ancestors into the lives of her children and grandchildren. She leaves a legacy of resilience, generosity, hard work, strong convictions, and a faith that sustained her through life’s suffering and joys.

As those who loved her remember her life, may they remember her stories, her smiles, her unmistakable opinions and passions, and the many ways she showed up for the people she loved. And may they remember the hymns sung at her bedside, the independent woman allowing herself to be carried by her little sisters and children like a bride presented, and the quiet certainty of her final words: “I know.” Her illness took much of her speech. In those final days, she had the opportunity to rest, be still, and receive.

Visitation Services

A viewing will be held on Monday, October 19, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Norris-Segert Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 132 Fremont Street, West Chicago, IL 60185.

A small funeral service at the funeral home will be held on Tuesday, October 20, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The procession and burial will be a private event limited to immediate family only. Thank you for respecting the wishes of the family at this time.

In Lieu of Flowers

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Pointe Church’s Deacons Ministry to support benevolence and community assistance. For online donations, select “Deacons Ministry” at https://naperville.gracepointe.us/we-are/give/.

Checks may be made payable to Grace Pointe Church, with “Deacons Fund” in the memo line, and mailed to:

Grace Pointe Church1320 E Chicago AvenueNaperville, IL 60540