Katherine Faith Tiambeng passed away at the age of 34 on March 28, 2025, after nearly four years of living with metastatic breast cancer. She was born on February 15, 1991, in New Orleans, Louisiana to Alejandro and Susan Tiambeng.  

Katie had a way of effortlessly connecting with people. She was a close friend to many and forged lasting friendships with people from all stages of her life, from elementary school to graduate school. Deeply unserious, her humor and wit translated to a career as a writer at advertising agencies and The New York Times. She devoted her spare time to volunteering as a friendly visitor to the elderly at Heights and Hills. 

Katie was known for her perseverance and passion for life. After experiencing the hardship of relocation due to Hurricane Katrina, she excelled at music at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and continued performing amid her diagnosis at Carnegie Hall, Opera America and with the studio of her friend and teacher, Dr. Carol Wong. A hardworking student, she received a dual bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and master’s degree from VCU Brandcenter. Her adventurous spirit led her to call several cities home: New Orleans, Dallas, Austin, San Francisco, Richmond, and Brooklyn, where she spent her final years. Upon learning her disease would cut her life short, she rode in the Krewe of Iris at Mardi Gras with her sister, Sarah, and squeezed in trips to the Philippines, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, England, Hungary and Mexico between hospital visits. She lived her last days in Birmingham, Alabama, surrounded by the comfort of her loved ones. 

Katie is survived by her beloved parents Alejandro and Susan; her sister Joanne and her family Jeff, Alex and Eddie; her sister Sarah and brother-in-law Jake; her brother Jerome and sister-in-law Dani; and her dog, Roofus.