Catherine Theresa Deck (Terry) passed peacefully on June 22nd, 2019 in Newport Beach California at the age of 87. She is survived by her husband Robert Deck and her seven children Robert, Joseph, Eric, Theresa, John, Veronica and David.
Terry was born on June 10, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio to Thomas Mangan and Catherine Kilbane who immigrated from Ireland in 1915 and 1923 respectively. She was the second youngest of five children.
As a young girl Terry was a tom-boy who loved playing softball, picking blackberries on the farm and doting on her younger brother Tommy. She also valued her Catholic education; earning money for tuition and often making the five-and-half mile trek to school by foot when she didn’t have the ten cents bus fare. She graduated from St Joseph’s Academy in 1950. After graduating she worked at Cleveland Trust Bank and later ran the data entry department for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.
She met Robert Deck “Bob” in 1953 through a mutual acquaintance and family friend Joe Costanzo.
Their first encounter was as blind dates at the Kent State, Military Ball. The crowd that evening must have sensed kismet as they stopped to watch Terry and Bob dance their first waltz. Several years later and after many earnest talks about shared faith and a willingness to trust God’s providence in family, fortune and love Catherine agreed to marry Bob. They wed November 30, 1957. Bob and Terry were happily married 62 years and together had seven children, traveled the world and dabbled as artists all while remaining steadfast in their pledge of faith to God.
Terry’s vocation was her faith and family. She viewed these as inseparable; family was her church and ministry. She approached her chosen vocation with a generous spirit; turning chores like laundry into a devotional -- praying for each of her seven children, and Bob as she folded countless socks, underwear, shirts and pants. She had a strong sense of right and wrong but was slow to judge. Instead she quietly encouraged her wayward flock to do better and to believe anything is possible through faith.
Terry was never one to ask for help but always quick to offer it. Whether it was volunteering to help a disabled child’s parents, spending afternoons with Angie an estranged Alzheimer’s patient or taking in three homeless Australian’s for the summer; Terry’s table and heart were always open. In fact, it was a common occurrence to find the children’s friends sitting at Terry’s kitchen table for a visit. Her willingness to listen and share her occasionally quirky stories was endearing. Terry had an uncanny way of making you feel accepted and special; which is why she was universally loved by family and friends.
The last two years of Terry’s life are a testament to her faith, resilience and character. Although facing an impossible list of ailments, she refused to surrender or wallow in self-pity. She met the challenge on her terms; consistently beating the odds and providing the opportunity for the family to rally around her. Through her strength she gave us each the extra time needed to process this immense loss and come together as a family – a legacy she would certainly cherish.
Services begin at 9:30am June 27 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 1441 West Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA. Following mass and burial ceremony and reception will be held at Pacific View Cemetery, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar CA. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Terry’s life.
