Catherine Regina (LaRusso) Platz

Catherine Regina (LaRusso) Platz, age 61, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, May 5th, 2026 at home in Gilbert, AZ.

Catherine was born April 22, 1965 to Joseph and Lucille LaRusso. She liked to go by Cathi. Her early years were spent near the beach growing up in Orange County California. Her parents chose a lovely family home where Catherine and her sister Diana were able to walk to elementary, middle, and high schools. Cathi was very bright and excelled throughout her education. She had a beautiful voice and enjoyed participating in high school choir, where she stood tall in the back row with a bright smile during many successful performances. In these early years she created several lifelong friendships she valued beyond measure. And she would tell you she met her “best friend Lorna” in just the second grade!

Summer vacations were spent with cousins at the river, water skiing, night diving off pontoons, and soaking in the sun. These trips and time with family were among her best memories. She would later continue the river traditions with her son, Corey.

Cathi was known for her hard work ethic. After high school she worked in the fine China department at the Broadway department store where she met her dear friend Laura. During this era, she studied to become a medical assistant and spent long hours volunteering at a local hospital. She always loved helping people and did so with compassion and grace. Her full-time career was with Southern California Edison where she worked for over 20 years, standing out as a customer service representative and lead on the safety team.

Cathi married David Douglas and through that union had her cherished and only son, Corey. She would tell you that being a mom was not only her greatest joy, but her biggest accomplishment. She had an incredible mother-son bond with Corey who will miss her fiercely. She prioritized his private Christian school education, spent all quality time possible with him, and simply loved being called “mom”. Corey filled her heart in every way imaginable.

April 21st, 1996 Cathi was baptized and joined First Southern Baptist Church of Fountain Valley. There she was very active in the single adults ministry, and there met her future husband.

On August 18, 2007 she married the man of her dreams, Ronald Platz, on the on the beach in Long Beach, California. The marital bond Cathi and Ronald shared was admired by all who knew them. During their years together, they lived in Colorado, California, and later in Arizona. At each destination the couple made a true home filled with love, the best dogs ever, great food, and welcoming smiles for all who would visit. The couple was married close to 19 years and while they both would have wanted much more, they truly lived with love, honor, and respect.

Cathi was known for her quick wit, great memory, love of music, film, dogs and travel. She had many lifelong friends to whom she was devoted and shared decades long memories like bike rides to the beach, special trips, game nights, baking, holidays, caring for and riding her horse April, and raising children.

Catherine is survived by her son, Corey Douglas and her sister, Diana LaRusso, both of Huntington Beach, and her husband, Ronald Platz, of Gilbert Arizona. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to know her.

The Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 am Saturday May 23, 2026 at Voyage Calvary Church, 2987 Mesa Verde Dr East Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

In lieu of flowers, the family warmly welcomes a card or letter with memories of Cathi.