Catherine Mary Dunmyer Sellers

Cathy was born on August 17, 1952 in Birmingham, Alabama to Raymond Dunmyer, Sr. and Madge Tully Dunmyer. She grew up in West End along with four siblings, and attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and School. She graduated from John Carroll High School in 1970, and went on to Auburn University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974, and spent a year in New Orleans at Charity Hospital to study for her dietitian certification. She moved back to Birmingham in 1975, and worked as a registered dietitian at Medical Center East (now UAB St. Vincent’s East) until the early 1990’s. In 1996, she began teaching nutrition classes to culinary students at Jefferson State Community College at both the Jefferson Campus and the Shelby-Hoover Campus, and continued teaching for about 20 years. She was a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) for 50 years.

Cathy was a devout catholic, and was very active in her community at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the past 50 years, she has volunteered for numerous organizations including: Parish School of Religion, Vacation Bible School, Children’s Ministry, Women’s Fellowship, Meals on Wheels, Firehouse Shelter, First Light, First Wednesday Dinner, Monthly Senior Bingo Lunch, and Funeral Luncheons. She has also participated in masses regularly in the roles of an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Lector, Sacristan, and Rosary Leader. Additionally, she performed odd tasks around the church office, including counting donations, collecting mail, answering phones, and anything else that could be a help to others. For decades, she distributed communion to housebound parishioners and to patients at UAB Hospital on Sundays. Her husband lovingly calls Cathy a “professional volunteer” when describing her. Her dedication to her ministry was an inspiration to others.

Cathy met the man of her dreams, Brooks “Pete” Sellers, at the catholic student center at Auburn University during her last month of college in 1974. While their personalities were quite different, they found that their differences complimented each other very well. Pete and Cathy built their relationship on a foundation of love, trust, and humor. They were married in June of 1977, and have enjoyed 48 wonderful years of marriage together. They had two children who are now grown: Christopher and Elizabeth. Cathy was a devoted mother who loved both her children more than words can say. She has always done whatever she could to love and support them based on their specific needs.

Cathy brought joy wherever she went, and always had a smile on her face. She never met a stranger, quickly befriending anyone who would talk to her. She was an excellent baker and candy maker. She enjoyed making goodies around the holidays to distribute to friends and family.

Cathy was diagnosed with kidney cancer in June. Due to some other health issues, she was not strong enough to undergo surgery at the time. She, her family, and her friends worked very hard to try to help her regain the strength needed for the operation, but the cancer spread to her brain during that time. In the end, she passed away peacefully in the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care while surrounded by family.

Cathy is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Madge Dunmyer; her brother, John Tully Dunmyer; and her sister-in-law, Gayle Sellers Chadek.

She is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband, Brooks “Pete” Sellers; her son, Christopher Sellers of Birmingham, Alabama; her daughter, Elizabeth Sellers of Brooklyn, New York; her brother, Rev. Raymond Dunmyer, Jr. of Pelham, Alabama; her sister, Madge Dunmyer Gower (Ray) of Fort Payne, Alabama; her sister Ann Dunmyer Mayhall (Tom) of Hoover, Alabama; her brother-in-law, Tom Chadek of Cottonwood, Alabama; her aunt, Aldaretta Dunmyer LaPointe of Jacksonville, Florida; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The services are planned as follows:

· Visitation: Thursday 9/18, 6:30pm-8:00pm followed by a rosary, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

· Funeral Mass: Friday 9/19, 11:00am, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, followed by burial at Elmwood Cemetery and then luncheon back at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

The funeral will also be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person: https://www.youtube.com/@st.francisxaviercatholicch9929/streams

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to:

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church: https://www.sfxbirmingham.com/online-giving-text-to-give/

Catholic Charities & Communities, Birmingham: https://www.catholiccharitiesbhm.org/give-now.html

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/

UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care: https://www.uab.edu/medicine/palliativecare/support