OBITUARY: On April 9th Catherine passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at 93. She was beautiful, energetic, vibrant, engaging, and interested in everyone around her. A true matriarch of the family, she wrote, at 86, a 120+ page book with pictures and illustrations about the history of the family. She spent 30 years researching it with her brother and cousins, traveling to Ireland and Nova Scotia to discover new material. It took 1 1/2 years to compile and write. As she was the last remaining of her generation, she was determined that the story be passed down through future generations and not be lost. At 89, she became a published author with her beautiful children's book "Missus Blue", a story based on true events about a bluebird in her backyard. She was fiercely independent, driving up until the last 5 months of her life. Catherine was born in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, and began her university studies at the University of Pittsburgh until WWII turned her interest to nursing. She enrolled in the US Cadet Nurse Corps program becoming a Registered Nurse. She met her husband, Harold, in 1951, in Los Angeles, and married him 3 months after they met they were married for 66 years. She retired when her children were born and began a life of service as a volunteer for the Red Cross. She spent over 20 years teaching CCD classes at St. Joseph of Cupertino in Cupertino, CA and St. John the Evangelist in Carmichael, CA. She was a soprano in the choir in both locations and spent many years in the Ladies Guild, and the Legion of Mary. Interested in politics, she hosted many "Ladies Teas" in her home for then State Assemblyman Leroy F. Green and was active in the League of Women Voters. An avid golfer, she was Captain of the Niners Golf Club at North Ridge Country Club and in the early 1980's was involved in the expansion of the Women's Nine Hole Golf Association of Northern California into the Central Valley. She traveled extensively around the world with her husband and family, took many trips to visit her daughter in New York City and loved going with her to various hiking spas. She always told interesting and lively stories about her travels. She is, and will be, deeply missed by her family and friends. Services will be held at St. Mel Catholic Church 4745 Pennsylvania Ave, Fair Oaks on Saturday, October 6 at 10:00am. Memorial lunch to follow at North Ridge Country Club. Interment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. - Published in The Sacramento Bee on Sept. 30, 2018