Catherine Marie Catalano
June 12, 2010
Catherine (Katie) Marie Catalano, beloved mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother, aunt and friend to many, passed away on Saturday, June 12,
2010, at Mercy Hospital, Scranton, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Dunmore on January 22, 1916, daughter of the late Leonard and
Carmella (Galasso) Mecca, Katie was educated in the Dunmore schools before
joining her sisters to work at the Grove Silk Mill at age 17.
On September 1, 1941, she married her one
and only true love, Joseph Catalano, and joined him at his business, Catalano's
Market, in South Scranton. Partners
in life and in business, Katie and Joe worked tirelessly at making "The Store" a
success. Soon, Catalano's thrived and
became known throughout the area for its Italian sausage and kielbasa, as well
as for the warm, inviting atmosphere that Katie and Joe created for their
customers.
In addition to running the family business, Katie was also dedicated to
her much-loved family, raising her daughter Sebastianna and son Michael, as well
as helping raise many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Katie and Joe enjoyed traveling to many
foreign countries with their family and also with their friends from Affiliated
Foods and UNICO. But most of all, Katie
loved to entertain and cook for her loved ones; her delicious spaghetti sauce
and Italian cookies were among everyone's favorite foods, and she continued to
cook into her nineties.
After more than forty years, Katie and Joe retired and moved to Minooka,
where they became well-respected in the neighborhood and joined St. Joseph's
Church, now Divine Mercy. Following Joe's
passing 1994, Katie grieved and later moved forward with the grace and dignity
for which she was known. She continued to
enjoy the company of her cherished sisters and family.
She remained active in many clubs and
organizations, including the Ladies of UNICO and the After 50 Club.
Prior to her illness, she enjoyed monthly
trips to Atlantic City with her sisters.
In addition to her parents and husband, Katie was preceded in death by
her only brother Peter Mecca, followed by her sisters Mary Mecca, Jean Isasky,
and Bernetta Labeda. She is survived by
her sister, Donna Catalano, of NJ, her only daughter, Sebastianna "Anne"
Catalano, with whom she resided, and her son, Michael Catalano, of Louisiana.
She is also survived by her granddaughter
and best friend, Ellyn Collins, who took loving care of her, as well as her
namesake, granddaughter Kate Collins, of Ohio, granddaughters Lisa Gizas and
Gina, Balogh of NJ, and grandson, Joseph Catalano.
Her love is passed down to her great-grandchildren Maria and Damian
Gizas, who were with her in her final hours and brought her immeasurable joy and
pride, and great-grandson Jasper Balogh. She
is will be greatly missed by all of her numerous nieces and nephews, including
Carmel Gresko, Robert Mecca, Anthony Mecca, Leonard Mecca, Donna Ennis, Michael
Catalano,
Carmella Zaleski and their families.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in The
Divine Mercy Parish at St. Joseph’s Church 312 Davis Street.
Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Those
attending the Funeral Mass are asked to go directly to the church.
