Biography
Catherine T. Strait, 89, of Sweet Hill Road in the Town of Oppenheim, passed away peacefully, on Saturday afternoon, September 5, 2009 at the Sitrin Rehabilitation Center in New Hartford, New York.
She was born on March 11, 1920 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, a daughter of the late John and Katherine Terlicak. She was educated in Dolgeville School. On Wednesday evening, July 3, 1940, Catherine was united in marriage to George W. Strait at St. Joseph’s Parish House in Dolgeville, New York. Next year the couple would have celebrated 70 years of marriage together. She was employed by the Daniel Green Shoe Company for 25 years until her retirement in 1977.
Catherine enjoyed traveling and she did so for the last 30 years of her life. Alongside her husband, she traveled throughout the United States in their motorhome. She was a Charter Member of Oppenheim Old Timers Club, the D.A.V. Auxiliary and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Organization.
Catherine’s presence made life easier for everyone around her. She taught us how to love. No one was ever a bother. If it was important to you, it was important to her. Catherine loved her family and friends. One of Catherine’s most important attributes that she will be remembered for was being a very righteous woman. As a young girl, she fought successfully for a school bus to bring the local children to school. She was against the Dolgeville-Hilltop landfill and battled long and hard until it was closed, and was also an instrumental person in getting the Veteran’s Memorial placed at the Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School.
Catherine was a blessing to have in our lives. She will be remembered as a loving woman, a caring wife and mother, and a special “Grandma Cot” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed by all who were touched by her life.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, George W. Strait; three loving children, Donna Watkins and her husband, Charles of Stuart, FL, John Strait and his wife, Dawn of Newark, NY, and Rodney Strait and his wife, Michelle of Fort Plain, NY; her seven special grandchildren, Chod Watkins and Scott Watkins of FL, Chris Strait and his wife, Kristen, Michael Strait and his wife, Barbara, Brian Strait and his wife, Leigh, all of Rochester, NY, Dr. Kimberly Strait Keane and her husband, Kevin of Clinton, NY and Bradley Strait of Ballston Spa; nine cherished great-grandchildren, Chod and Jonathan Watkins and Briana Poling of FL, Brooke and David Watkins of CA, Jonathon and Kathryn Strait of Rochester, NY, and Brady and Dylan Keane of Clinton, NY; two special nieces, Kay Patterson Watson of Fort Plain, and Alice Kaczmarek Cirelli of Poughkeepsie, and several special friends.
She was predeceased by all of her siblings; sister Frances (Ernest) Patterson, half-sisters, Maria Kaczmarek and Anna Bulvanoski, brothers, Andrew Terlicak, George Terlicak, half brothers, John Terlicak and Joseph Terlicak.
Calling hours will be held on Monday evening, September 7, 2009 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at Miller-Plonka Funeral Home, 30 Wolf Street, Dolgeville, New York. Funeral services for Catherine will be on Tuesday morning, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home as well, with Deacon Peter Manno, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dolgeville following her funeral.
In lieu of floral offerings, the family would like donations to be made for the Beaver Sprite Sanctuary, 155 Wyman Road, Dolgeville, NY 13329.
Catherine’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown and the Sitrin Rehabilitation Center for their loving and compassionate care that was given to Catherine during her stay.
To leave a message of sympathy, please sign their guestbook.
