Catherine O'Malley, a gentle soul
Catherine O'Malley, 68, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 8, 2017, at her sister Fran's home in Lewes, surrounded by her loving family. Cathy was born May 5, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pa., the sixth child of nine. The family resided in Gloucester County, N.J. Cathy moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1987 to live with her sister Anne Minix and relocated to Lewes in 2012.
Cathy was a gentle soul who had no malice. Through the years, Cathy worked at various sheltered workshop positions in New Jersey. After several years of living with Anne, David, and their children in Utah, she lived independently with a support group and family close by.
Cathy reached her full potential when she was able to live independently, choose her friends, maintain employment, and learned to speak her mind. She remained close to a number of her Utah friends while residing in Delaware. Once retired to Lewes, Cathy attended the Harbor Lights CHEER Center daily and made friends with many wonderful people. Likewise, Cathy's friends and neighbors at Huling Cove Apartments were very caring. Cathy's aides, first from Visiting Angels and then from CHEER Home Healthcare, showed Cathy unconditional love and compassion. Finally, Cathy was blessed with great friends, Jim and Cyndi Riddle of Lewes, who loved her as family. Cathy succumbed to metastatic breast cancer after a two-year fight.
Cathy was preceded in death by her parents, Vincent and Mary (O'Connell) O'Malley; her beloved brother Bart; and her grandnephew Charles Balogh. She is survived by her five sisters: Mary (Ron) Brunner of San Diego, Calif., Margaret (John) McGinley of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Anne (David) Minix of Salt Lake City, Frances O'Malley of Lewes and Helen O'Malley of West Deptford, N.J.; her two brothers: Rev. Vincent O'Malley, C.M. of Niagara University, N.Y., and William O'Malley of Mullica Hill, N.J.; her 19 nieces and nephews and their spouses; her 34 grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and her two great-grandnephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Mary Mother of Peace Church, 30839 Mt. Joy Road; Millsboro, Monday, June 12, at 11 a.m., where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be private at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Cathy's memory to Harbor Lights CHEER Center, 34211 Woods Edge Drive, Lewes, DE 19958, or to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way; Milford, DE 19962.
Please visit Cathy's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
