1936 -2024
COOPERSTOWN – Catherine E. Coleman, 88, of Cooperstown, entered into eternal rest Tuesday afternoon, August 27, 2024, surrounded by family at her home.
Cathy was born July 31, 1936, in Mount Vernon, a daughter of George William Herman and Catherine May (Swink) Herman. Raised in Connecticut, she received her education at Lauralton Hall in Milford, and then received an associate’s degree from the University of Bridgeport. For a time she was employed as a laboratory technician with McKesson and Robbins, Inc. in Fairfield.
On May 30, 1959, Cathy married William Harold Coleman II in a ceremony at St. Theresa’s Church in Trumbull, Connecticut. Bill’s job with the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. and later Remington Arms Company, Inc. led he and Cathy to live in many places around the country, including Delaware, Connecticut, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Texas. While in Texas and later Pennsylvania Cathy established and participated in “Guitar Masses” at local churches. During those years their family grew to include four daughters, Catherine (“Kitty”), Susanne, Donna and Linda. The Coleman’s eventually settled in Cooperstown in 1984.
Cathy was a faithful and devoted communicant of St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown. For several years she and her friend, Fran Raeder served Communion to all Catholic patients at Bassett Hospital.
In addition to her parents, Cathy was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Claire Coleman who died June 24, 2004, and a son-in-law, Karl Dykstra who died September 10, 2018.
Cathy is survived by her husband of 65 years, Bill Coleman of Cooperstown, and three daughters, Catherine “Kitty” Dykstra and Susanne Coleman of Cooperstown and Donna Clifford and husband, Robert of Hingham, Massachusetts; eight grandchildren, Karl Dykstra, Jr. and wife, Becky, William Dykstra and wife, Hilari, Julie and Elizabeth “Ellie” Dykstra, George, Coleman and Francis Clifford, and Casey Laufer; 5 great grandchildren; a sister, Joan Petrovich of Monroe, Connecticut; a brother, William Herman and wife, Vikki of Fairfield, Connecticut; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. Michael Cambi, pastor officiating. Immediately following Mass all attending are invited to a reception in the Parish Hall located directly behind the church.
The Service of Committal and Burial will be held at a later date in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
