Holding her hands, by her side were her "two Bobs." Loving husband of 19 years, Bob Jr. and the joy of her life, their "miracle baby" Bobby--now 17--who she now dotes on from above.
She was born in Chicago, IL to her beloved parents, William (Bill) Schmidt and Fern (Hart) Schmidt. She has a sister/best friend, Carrie Trafton and two brothers, Bill and Dan Schmidt.
Cathy had a rich life full of wonderful achievements--but the greatest of all of them was her son Bobby--her "lovey buggy". He was (and still is) her everything. He made her so incredibly proud everyday.
She had the loudest cheers at all his basketball games. She was known to argue with dads on opposing teams from time to time. She especially loved when the whole family attended to cheer Bobby on. Grandpa Bill, Grandmas Fernie and Peggy---and all the uncles, aunts and cousins and friends. She and her husband would hide in-between games so that no one could wrangle them into score-keeping duties!
In the summer (her favorite season) she could often be seen playing a pick-up game of basketball with Bobby in the driveway. She boasted of her ball handling skills (because she played a season in her college sorority--Alpha Omicron Pi--on the worst team). In actuality, her clumsy "ball-handling" skills were only matched by her equally hilarious dancing skills. Bobby could barely play through the laughter. She still insisted that she was a talented player and dancer though.
She spent her last days with Bobby talking about life, school, her wishes for him and laughing while he put together legos by her side. When she began to have trouble talking, she communicated through her smile. The same smile that lit up every room she was in. The smile that made everyone feel a warm welcome. The beautiful smile that made us all love her. She smiled to the very end.
Cathy has many friends who loved her. Old friends, and new life-long friends she met and embraced through Bob and later, Bobby. She loved going out to different restaurants, Chicago team games, city festivals or home parties with all of them. She did not like "escape rooms" however...or anything outside if it was too cold!
Because of her experiences with cancer, she was always giving back to those touched by the disease. She volunteered with an organization where she could council newly diagnosed women through their journey. She attended many American Cancer Society Relay for Life events where she once co-chaired the event.
She created "Little Hope" dolls that she intended to use the profits from to donate to cancer causes. But she kept just giving them away to those in need of hope instead.
She shared her cancer journey in the 2010 documentary, Life In a Day and again in Life in a Day: Then and Now. People at all the screenings in the U.S., Berlin and London were so moved by her contribution that they hugged her and offered prayers when they met her during press travels. This was probably her most favorite silver lining from her too many cancer journeys. She got to release her inner diva and glamorously walk the red carpets in outfits that she proudly pieced together and accessorized from Target clearance racks.
Last, she took joy in spending time with her "smitten" husband (never use the word "hubby"). They did everything together; Dunn-hunting at Home Goods (don't ask), going out for dinner and drinks, flea markets, driving around with coffee and a muffin on a Saturday morning and (of course) "beer-thirty" after a long day. They were (and still are) each other's "favorite friends". Their love could never be broken by cancer or death. It was just made stronger, more pure and eternal.
It's truly impossible to capture this beautiful woman in a few paragraphs. She was one-of-a-kind. Irreplaceable. Smart. Funny. Sarcastically quick-witted, sometimes crabby, but she loved people and life---and lived to the fullest in her short time.
And she will live on forever in our hearts--and in the memory of her infectious laugh and that huge smile--until we see her again in heaven.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18