Catherine M. Donohue

July 31, 1931 ~ July 13, 2024
Born in:
Queens, NY
Resided in:
Smithtown, NY
Catherine Donohue Celebration of Life.
Catherine Donohue passed away on July 14, 2024 at home surrounded by her devoted daughters. Catherine was born, raised, and educated in NYC. She began her career at a large manufacturing company headquartered office in Manhattan enjoying all the city had to offer especially lunch with her girlfriends at the Automat before meeting her husband. As was common in the day, Catherine met Patrick at social dance in New York City. They married and went on to raise their 4 children in Long Island.
Catherine always had an interest in healthy living, and after raising her children she channeled her knowledge and soft skills into managing the storefront and running the business operations of a health-food cooperative. Catherine was an excellent listener and friend to everyone she met, which is why the cooperative was so successful. Friends always knew Catherine had the coffee pot on and was available for a drive-by visit. She also had an unwavering willingness to be a wingman to anyone who needed encouragement to pursue new challenges. Her children learned this lesson well and were not shy about try new things and being adventurous.
Catherine’s home was always filled with love and laughter. Her managerial skills were never as put to the test as when she rechanneled her children’s raucous energy by encouraging and engaging in quieter creativity through art and music. Catherine was always a prolific doodler and had a keen eye for simplistic design. In these last few months, it has been fun to reminisce about the arts and crafts projects that Catherine shared with her young children and relearning of her hidden talents to include her artistic eye in painting and photography.
Her keen eye was not just for art. Catherine surprised and delighted her family demonstrating her sharp hand/eye coordination and athleticism while learning the game of pickleball with her nephews on the driveway at the age of 91. She loved having Sunday family dinners with her extended family and was happiest when sharing a cup of coffee and chit-chat around the kitchen table. This theme of friendship and communion along with love and compassion for her neighbors were the tenets she followed throughout her life.
Catherine was an avid reader and had a high intellectual curiosity in all areas of the natural world. Catherine was as content alone at home reading a book as dancing the lindy with her husband at weddings. She was sweet, kind, caring with a sharp wit and memorable sense of humor. To know her was to love her and to be steadfastly loved by her.
She leaves a legacy of love, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to her family and to her faith. The family thanks you for your continued prayers as Catherine makes her journey safely home. Catherine’s favorite charity was the Priest of the Sacred Heart whose mission is to help spread Jesus’ love.
Services
Visitation: Monday, July 15, 2024 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Branch Funeral Home Smithtown
190 E. Main St.
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Second Visitation: Monday, July 15, 2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Branch Funeral Home Smithtown
190 E. Main St.
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Mass: Tuesday, July 16, 2024 10:30 am
St. Patrick's R C Church Smithtown
280 E Main St
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Interment: Wednesday, February 12, 2025 5:31 pm
St. Patrick's Cemetery Smithtown
Mount Pleasant Road
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Aunt Catherine was truly a wonderful woman with a big heart full of love for everyone. May you take comfort that she is resting in eternal peace with all of our loved ones that have gone before her. She will be missed and always present in our hearts and minds from the memories we hold dear.
Love and prayers,
Kathleen, Martina & John
Thank you so much. She loved us all. The flowers were beautiful.