Catherine (Oberdorf) Faiola, 87, of Camp Hill, PA, passed away on September 2, 2025 due to complications from a stroke suffered on November 4, 2020. She died peacefully while outside under the blue skies of a gorgeous central PA afternoon with her daughters by her side.
She was born on December 23, 1937, in West Leechburg, PA, the fifth of nine children of the late Clarence M. and Helen E. (Michadick) Oberdorf. Catherine was a graduate of Leechburg Area High School, where she was a star basketball player despite surviving polio at 23 months of age that left her with limited use of her right arm and hand. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert (“Bob”) A. Faiola, on August 26, 1961. They had 3 children and celebrated 61 years of marriage prior to Bob’s death.
Catherine was a bookkeeper at the former Favero Furniture Co. in Leechburg, PA after graduating from high school prior to moving with her husband to Fort Lee in Petersburg, VA for his US Army assignment. She and Bob settled in Camp Hill, PA in 1963 where she was a stay-at-home mom who always put her family and others before herself. She enjoyed outdoor walks, tennis and bowling, rolling multiple perfect games in her days of league play. Additionally, Catherine played in a pinochle card club for many years and loved to host gatherings, throwing many memorable Christmas Eve and summer block parties. She was a life-long Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan.
Catherine served her community as a poll worker for local and national elections and was a member of the Holy Spirit Hospital Ladies Auxiliary. A seasonal part-time job at Hess’s department store in the 1980s led to Catherine’s long career in retail, culminating in her role as customer service manager at Hess’s and later the Camp Hill Bon Ton, which she retired from in 2010. She loved her children and grandchildren, spending time with them and supporting their endeavors, of which she was immensely proud. Following her husband’s devastating stroke in 1994, Catherine was Bob’s primary caregiver for more than 25 years but continued to help others at every opportunity through her kindness and generosity. Catherine and Bob were members of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Camp Hill, PA.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen Faiola Brezitski (Mark) of Harrisburg, PA and Brenda Faiola Nichols (Gary) of Cary, NC; five grandchildren, Makenna and Kyla Brezitski, Kaitlyn Faiola, and Justin and Larissa Nichols; a sister, Elvira Tafi; one brother, Robert Oberdorf; a daughter-in-law, Kimberly (Pirilla) Faiola; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Catherine was preceded in death by her husband Bob (September 2, 2022); her son, David Faiola (June 26, 1998); a grandson, Owen Cole Brezitski (March 17, 2011); a sister, Marlene Catalino; five brothers, Clarence (“Clem”), Charles, Joseph, Paul, and James Oberdorf; and three nephews.
Neill Funeral Home, 3401 Market St., Camp Hill has been entrusted with funeral arrangements, including a Mass of Christian Burial at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 3435 E. Trindle Rd., Camp Hill, PA 17011 on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 10:30am (visiting hour at 9:30am) and interment with her husband at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Catherine’s memory to her late grandson’s namesake nonprofit organization, Owen’s Foundation (orange4owen.org), or Grane Hospice Care (granehospice.com).
