Catherine Denise Haar

Cath attended public schools in Upland, graduating from Upland High School in 1986. Throughout her life, she worked for vocational service agencies, where she took great pride in doing light office work and preparing food or going to local businesses for a temporary assignment, like folding boxes at Pizza Hut or cleaning tables at Vince’s Spaghetti and Hometown Buffet (she especially enjoyed the free lunches that came with those jobs).

She lived in a care facility run by Salem Christian Homes, where she loved the staff and her roommates and considered them family. She was an enthusiastic participant in all the outings arranged by her home—church services, birthday parties, field trips, dances—Cath was there with a smile on her face. While staying at home during the pandemic, Cath had fun making crafts, doing puzzles, riding the stationary bike or watching TV with her roommates. At least one or two of her cherished stuffed animals was pretty much always at her side.

Cath loved going to lunch with Dad once a week. Her favorite lunch spot was Denny’s for their soup and grilled cheese sandwich. If ice cream was offered, Cath happily accepted. She enjoyed making weekend visits to her parents’ house, where Mom would cook up a favorite meal. Cath’s visits were paused for more than a year due to the COVID pandemic, so Mom and Dad came to her home to chat with her through the window screen or on the patio, where they could play bingo or shoot baskets. Cath was eagerly awaiting her first trip back to her parents’ house—and Mom’s meatloaf—when she died unexpectedly the day before.

Cath will be remembered for her kindness and gentleness, her readiness with a big smile and her eagerness to help others. Her love for other people, and her ability to remember the birthday of everyone she met, were remarkable. She will be remembered for the joy she took in music and singing, despite sharing her family’s inability to carry a tune (which she made up for in enthusiasm and volume). She loved playing tambourine in a band at her workplace.

Her family is so grateful for the 53 years we had her with us. We only wish we’d had more time. Cath is survived by her parents, Daniel and Joann Haar of Upland; her sisters and their spouses, Deborah and Dan Clark of Indialantic, Florida, and Diane Haar and Steven Hillenbrand of Honolulu, Hawaii; her nieces, Sophie and Hailey Clark; and her loving extended family.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, June 7, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 920 W. 6th Street in Ontario. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salem Christian Homes, 6921 Edison Ave, Chino, CA 91710, in memory of Catherine Haar.