Catherine Nowicki

It is with great sadness that the family of Catherine Nowicki, formerly of Nanuet, NY, announce her passing after a brief illness on September 23, 2018 at the age of 92 years. Catherine will be lovingly remembered by her 6 children, Joseph (Vicki), Paul (Mary), Michael (Gina), Kate, Patrick (Lene) and Anne (Jeff), 10 grandchildren, Sarah, Claire, Joseph, Michael, Timothy, Nikolas, Oline, Emily, Marika, and Juliet, and one great grandchild Jocelyn. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph F.X., and a son Peter.

Catherine spent her life in service to others. First, as an English teacher at Nanuet High School for nearly 40 years and second, as an active member of the Rockland County political scene. As an educator, she touched countless lives with her passion for proper grammar and etiquite, and a love of classic literature. She used her classroom to instill traditional values and teach life lessons.

Catherine served for many years as a Clarkstown Town Councilwoman, a Rockland County Legislator, a member of the Clarkstown Planning Board, the Historical Review Board, the Nanuet Civic Association, the Rockland Business Council, Chair of the Clarkstown Economic Development Agency and the co-chair of the Tappan Zee Bridge Task Force (where she was a strong proponent for commuter rail service across the new bridge). She was respected and admired by friend and foe alike for her fairness and her wisdom, and a desire to help individuals and her community above all else.

"To die, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause: there's the respect

That makes calamity of so long life."

(Hamlet, Wm. Shakespeare)

Visitation will be held at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home in New City on Tuesday, October 2 from 2-4pm and 6-9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s Church, Nanuet on Wednesday, October 3 at 10am. Interment will follow at Gary Onderdonk Cemetery in Spring Valley.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to the Ladies of Charity (https://catholiccharitiesny.org/our-agencies/ladies-charity-archdiocese-new-york), an organization that was close to her heart.