Catherine Nelson

Catherine Marie (Moccabee) Nelson age 90, passed away peacefully in her home January 28, 2018 with her daughters at her side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday February 1, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Mt. St. Joseph Catholic Church (Nativity of the Lord Parish) 606 S. Franklin St., St. Louis, MI with Rev. Fr. Nate Harburg officiating. Burial will take place at a later date in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus, OH.  Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI between the hours of 3:00-8:00 PM on Wednesday January 31, 2018.  Deacon Todd Lovas will lead a Prayer Vigil at 7:30 PM.

Catherine “Cathie” was born December 2, 1927 in Columbus, OH, the third daughter of Louis Randall and Garnet (Riser) Moccabee.  Louie and Garnet spent the depression and war years moving their family of four daughters (Ann, Elizabeth, Catherine and Louise) to various homes around the city of Columbus. You can’t grow up in Columbus and not be a Buckeye. Cathie was an avid Ohio State University football fan until the very end.

Cathie graduated from South High School in 1945. While working in a plant that repurposed war machinery, she met Robert “Bob” Theodore Nelson. They married in Royal Oak, MI on February 24, 1950. They lived for a year in Marion, OH before moving up north to Detroit with baby Kathleen.

Catherine and Bob had four daughters: Kathleen, Robyn, Teresa and Patricia. She stayed home to raise the girls returning to the workforce when the oldest were in high school. Starting as a Temp through Witt Services, Cathie rose to the level of Administrative Assistant at the Warren Public Library until her retirement in 1985.  Travel became an important part of Cathie’s retirement years. She was grateful for the opportunity to visit so many extraordinary places, both home and abroad.

In October 1996, she moved north to the St. Louis/Alma community and immediately felt right at home in the small-town atmosphere. She was active in the Gratiot Community Senior Center, American Legion, Mt. St. Joseph Catholic Church, and the Gratiot Community Hospital Auxiliary. She was President of the Hospital Auxiliary for two years and enjoyed the opportunity to Co-Chair the Auxiliary’s Fractured Follies. Her years in St. Louis/Alma were very fulfilling and busy with family and friends. She adored her grandchildren, made many lasting friendships and loved volunteering.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, her three sisters and their spouses: Ann (John) Poszywak, Elizabeth “Chris” (Dean) Varney and Louise (Ray) Stertzer and ex-husband Bob. Sadly, she was also preceded in death by nieces and nephews Tom Brown, Nancy Brown Andress, Jim Nelson, Gary Stertzer, Greg Stertzer and Tanya Poszywak.

She is survived by her daughters: Kathy (Jerry) May, Robyn (Denny) Loviska, Terri (Jim) Sergio, and Patti (Kent) Broman; her grandchildren: Jimmy Gray, Shane (Brandi) Gray, Katie Farley, Andrea Sergio, Sarah Sergio, Sydney Sergio, Shawn (Rachel) May, Mark (Brittaney) May, Joel May, Tracy (Bob) Renkiewicz, Amy (Bernd) Stier and Carol Loviska (Bob Soich); and her great grandchildren: Madison, Tenley, Jenna, Jasmine, Natalie, Daniel, Shane, Caleb, Lillian, Emma, Dante, Cameron, Raelyn and Henry; and great-great grandchild Avery.

The family wishes to most especially extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Care workers of Great Lakes Caring Health and Hospice for their gentle, professional, compassionate and attentive care of our mother. We could not have been in better hands.

In lieu of flowers, Cathie’s family requests donations to the Gratiot Community Senior Center, the American Cancer Society or the Great Lakes Caring Health and Hospice.  Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI.