Elena Cata

Elena Catá was born in Havana, Cuba, on March 24, 1932. She exhibited tenacity and resilience throughout her 92 years of life, having survived the passing of her mother at an early age. She grew up with her cherished father, aunt, uncle, and cousins. In 1956, she married her beloved husband, Manuel Catá, Sr., and in 1957, she gave birth to their only child, Manuel Catá, Jr. In 1961, through sheer force of will, she enabled her family to flee Cuba, immigrating to the United States with her father, husband, and son. Initially settling in Florida, in 1962, she and her family made a home in Flushing, Queens, where she lived for 62 years.

In Flushing, Elena and her compatriots fostered community in a city where a preexisting one had not yet flourished. She and her husband were very active in the church community throughout their lives. She founded the Hispanic Society of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church and, for decades, spearheaded the annual celebration of La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, including a procession through the streets of downtown Flushing. As one of her ministries at St. Michael’s Church, Elena taught ESL and GED classes for a wide variety of immigrants. Her efforts created a hub of Catholicism and Cuban culture in the neighborhood.

Making her life in a brand-new country, Elena worked as a senior accountant for Woodhull Hospital, part of the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, for many years. As she resided in Flushing for decades, the neighborhood changed dramatically around her, but she continued to believe in building community with her fellow immigrants. In 2006, she was interviewed for a book about religious freedom and immigrant communities in Flushing, and described life in her apartment building and neighborhood: she valued her ability to live in freedom, practice her religion, and learn from her fellow community members with multifaceted experiences, customs, and cultures.

Elena lived for 20 years after losing the love of her life, her husband, in 2004, and she survived the loss of her only child in 2011. She loved music, dancing, fashion, telenovelas, and eating Cuban meals with her family. She and her husband traveled widely, including throughout Western Europe, Russia, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and, most importantly to Elena, the Holy Land.

Elena is survived by her three grandchildren, Nicole (Ben), Lauren, and Manuel; her niece, Vivian; her nephews, Alberto (Guido) and José; her great-niece, Isabella; her erstwhile daughter-in-law, Kathleen; and many fellow churchgoers.

A visitation for Elena will be held Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

at Quinn Fogarty Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358

Funeral Mass 10:30 AM, Friday May 31, 2024 at St Michael's Church 136-76 41st Ave Flushing, NY 11355.

Graveside service to follow at Mt St Mary's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Elena's honor as follows:

St. Michael's Church

136-76 41st Ave, Flushing, NY 11355

Specify "For Caridad de Cobre, in honor of Elena Catá"