Of Waltham, passed away peacefully to join her beloved husband in eternal life after many years apart on Wednesday February 15th, 2017 surrounded by her loving family at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge.
Born in Waltham; daughter of the late Philip and Frances (Lituri) Lembo, Catherine was a lifelong Waltham resident.
A graduate of Waltham High School with the Class of 1952; Catherine went on to work for Moody Stationary, Bentley College and as her daughter's Bookkeeper at Foster & Cannon Attorney's At Law in Waltham.
After the loss of her beloved husband and as a young widow her central focus in life became her family. She raised her daughter and cherished the moments as a homemaker and developed that special bond only a mother and daughter can have. She not only provided for her daughter; but for those she surrounded herself with a better life.
With the birth of her grand daughters Elise and Cathy she became "Eema" true to the meaning of Eema being mother she loved raised and cherished every moment with her grand daughters . Every school concert every athletic event and every day was special.
Suffering the loss of her dear sister, she welcomed the opportunity to provide and care for her nieces. Her strong faith sustained her through the toughest challenges in life. The gift of being able to accept many of life's challenges never kept Catherine from wanting the very best for her family.
Most people only knew of Catherine for her generous spirit of giving back to the community she so deeply loved; through the Waltham Garden Club as Past President, a member of the Friends of the Waltham Public Library, as Past President of the Junior's Woman's Club, The Waltham Arts Council, Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church CCD Teacher, Waltham Girl Scout and Brownies Leader, The Judges Council, Master Judge Emeritus, The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Inc., the New England Wild Flower Society, and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society; are only small examples of how she gave of herself in so many different ways.
Life was truly simple for Catherine; in a very unassuming way she was elegant, classy and dignified.
Family was the most important aspect of her life; caring for and nurturing others came natural to Catherine. She embraced the opportunity to hold dear those closet to her. There was never a time when she forgot to write or send a card on any special occasion to those she cared about throughout the years.
Although her devotion was to her family, she had a passion for gardening and arranging flowers. She shared her love of flowers through her own business "Personal Touch"
Every month on the 9th for the past 31 years she placed a single rose on top of the headstone of her beloved husband the late James J. Cannon Jr.
She is survived by her loving daughter Laura M. Cannon of Waltham, her cherished granddaughters Elise M. Ordile and Catherine A. Ordile, her dearest nieces Carol A. Noonan and Mary Beth Mizzoni and her adored great nieces & great nephews Jessica Fedele, Genevieve Fedele, Gina Mizzoni, Johanna Trombley and great great nephews and niece George Carson Jr., John Carson, Gio Torres, Gianna Chalernsauk and Joseph Chalernsauk Jr. In addition she was “Eema” to Thomas Gildea and family; Auntie to friends & extended family.
Relatives & Friends are respectfully invited to attend Funeral Services in celebration of Catherine’s Life from the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody St, Waltham on Tuesday morning Feb. 21st at 9:00 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Feake Cemetery. Visiting Hours will be held in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons on Monday Feb. 20th from 4 – 8 p.m. Parking attendants on duty.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in Catherine’s Memory to the James J. Cannon Memorial Scholarship, 586 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 024
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