Catherine Margaret Sergio

Catherine (Cathy) M. Sergio passed peacefully from this life into eternal life on Friday, July 4, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was born in South Bend, Indiana on October 11,1937, to Paul A. and Margaret (Zappia) Sergio and was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Anthony (Dolores) Sergio, Anne (Donald) Kotoske, Joseph (Jeanne) Sergio, Josephine (Gene) Muhlherr, and Maria (Joseph) Muhlherr. Cathy is survived by her beloved daughters Tina (Bruce) Ingram and Lisa Journagan, by the grandchildren she cherished, Abby Ingram-Nance (Tyler) and Drew Ingram, and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Cathy touched so many lives and will be missed by us all.

The youngest of six children, Cathy was adored by her parents and siblings. What a comfort it is to think of them all together for the first time in over fifty years, and now for eternity. They were surely waiting for her with arms open wide, rejoicing that their family is complete once again. Her childhood was a joyful one with an emphasis on faith and family. She had such fond memories of her mother making delicious Italian meals every Sunday after church for their extended family. These gatherings were about so much more than food; they were a time for sharing laughter and stories, and for growing bonds with loved ones that lasted all their lives. Like her mother before her, Cathy shared her culinary talents with family and friends, who not only enjoyed her amazing cooking but also her genuine hospitality. She poured her love into every dish, and each person who sat at her table felt the warmth of it. It gave Cathy such joy to see her granddaughter Abby take over this role for their family, cooking her Nani’s recipes. Cathy’s loving presence will be felt at every family gathering and meal. Her memory (and her recipes) will be shared for generations to come.

As a young adult, Cathy enjoyed her time working at the University of Notre Dame and especially her position as the office manager in Dr. Sanderson’s office, though she found her true purpose in life when she became a mother to Tina and Lisa. The loves of Cathy’s life were her daughters, who she raised in Lodi, California. They were her number one priority and she dedicated her life to them and their happiness. She was involved in volunteering at their school fundraisers, being a room mother, and supporting them in their activities and athletics, as well as being active with the PTA. As her daughters got older and moved away, she took every opportunity to travel and spend time with them, eventually relocating to the Houston area to live close to them and her young grandchildren. She was so proud of the women her girls became and loved them endlessly. She was particularly proud of the mother Tina is to Abby and Drew and of Lisa’s success as an entrepreneur. Cathy shared a special relationship with her son-in-law Bruce who she loved as if he were her own son.

Cathy adored her grandchildren, Abby and Drew, and the best name she was ever called in her wonderfully long life was ‘Nani’. The highlight of every day was seeing the two of them and she cherished her front row seat to their childhood. Throughout their childhood, Drew and Abby would cook with their Nani and enjoy sleepovers. She considered her role as their Nani one of her greatest blessings, and getting to see them grow into adulthood one of her life’s greatest gifts. One of the happiest moments of her life was the night of Abby and Tyler’s wedding reception. Cathy’s heart always had room for one more and she was excited when Tyler joined their family. She was very proud of the man Drew grew up to be and so happy he lived nearby. She looked forward to his frequent visits and appreciated what a great help he was to her. Without a doubt, she will be smiling down on Abby, Tyler, and Drew, watching their lives unfold and continuing to be their biggest cheerleader.

Though she loved being their aunt, for many of her nieces and nephews Cathy was also a true friend, adviser, and confidant. She was never too busy to listen or to share her natural wisdom. She cheered them on in their successes and comforted them through their losses. She held a special place in the lives of her great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews as well. She was such a loving presence in all their lives and touched the hearts of three generations.

Cathy truly had a heart for others and found many ways to help people through heartfelt gestures. She was always cooking a casserole for someone who was going through a hard time, sending someone a note of encouragement, or calling to check on people. She never forgot a birthday or special occasion, and though she didn’t own stock in Hallmark, she was certainly their best customer. Her cards were usually the first to arrive and when that envelope bearing her distinctive handwriting showed up in the mail, the recipient could do nothing but smile.

When Cathy saw that someone was feeling low, she’d send a thoughtful gift to brighten their day or find some other way to bring a smile to their face. She had a knack for really seeing people, for making them feel special, and for giving them everything she had in her heart to show them how special they were to her. Whether you were a member of her family or a dear friend, you knew how much she cared about you because she showed it in dozens of ways; her heart and her home were always open to you.

A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Cathy volunteered in her local parishes and faithfully participated in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on a weekly basis. While growing up, Cathy regularly recited the Rosary with her mother and sisters, a practice she continued throughout her life. One of her favorite places was the Grotto at the University of Notre Dame, located not far from her father’s shoe shop on the campus, where she went throughout her life to light candles and pray for those in need, who were ill, or who had passed away.

Cathy enjoyed trying out new restaurants and different types of cuisine. She loved to travel, specifically to New England (as clam chowder and lobster were two of her favorite things), although her favorite trip was the one she took to Italy with her daughters. She cherished the special memories they made there together. She was a loyal Notre Dame football fan and looked forward to watching their games in her stylish navy and gold outfits. She was an avid fan of HGTV, and loved watching a good Hallmark movie with her family, which was never complete without a big bowl of popcorn (with extra salt) or potato chips (which she loved almost as much as her popcorn). Cathy started and ended each day with no less than ten Word Searches, which kept her mind as sharp as a tack. Yahtzee was her favorite game, and over the years she played hundreds of games with her daughters, grandchildren, sisters, nieces and nephews. The last several years spent living on the lake close to her loved ones were some of the happiest years of Cathy’s life, and of theirs.

Cathy had a wonderful sense of humor and was simply a lot of fun to be around. Her generous spirit and kind ways made a real difference in people’s lives. She was gracious and encouraged us to give grace to others. A beautiful person inside and out, her light will continue to shine in us. She taught us many life lessons, but perhaps one of the most important is what a difference we can make in another person’s life through small, thoughtful acts of love and kindness.

We take comfort in Cathy’s life well lived, in the knowledge that she is home, at rest with her Lord and the family who missed her dearly, and in the knowledge that we will be reunited with her one day in heaven.

Cathy’s family would like to thank Cheryl and Dee from Acara Hospice for the way they tenderly cared for her and walked with our family through this difficult time.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at 8715 Kuykendahl Rd. Spring, TX 77382 at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Cathy’s family will receive family and friends in the entrance of the Chapel for one hour prior to the mass. They invite everyone to join them after mass in the Paduan Center to taste a few of Cathy’s favorite sweet and savory light bites.