Catherine Violet Vance

Catherine Vance passed away peacefully in the loving company of her family on February 5, 2015 at the age of 94, ending a long life devoted to her family, church, friends and community.

A resident of Scottsdale, Catherine was born in Akron Ohio on April, 15, 1920 the daughter of Milo and Josephine Chelovitz. She grew up in Akron where she graduated from Copley High School and then from Kent University in 1942. Like many children of immigrants, much of her life revolved around her family and her Serbian Orthodox church where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. It was in the choir that she met he husband, Sam Vance.

Catherine married Sam in 1946 and eight years later, with their two sons, George and Stephan, moved to Phoenix. After studying for her teaching credential at Arizona State University, Catherine began a long career teaching office skills in the Phoenix Union High School District, first at Central High School and then at South Mountain. She also earned a Master’s degree in education, and continued to take classes throughout her professional career.

Catherine and Sam were founding members of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Phoenix. They sang in the choir and Catherine taught Sunday school. In their retirement, they helped publish the church newsletter. She also volunteered for over 30 years with Reading for the Blind. Her life was a life of service to her family and her community.

Catherine’s parents taught her the importance of health, family, education, and friends. She nurtured each, and that enabled her to live a long and happy life. She was preceded in death by her husband Sam and son George, and is survived by her two brothers, George (Phyllis) and Milo (Mary Lou) Chelovitz, her son Stephan (Kate) her daughter-in-law Martha Vance, her two grandchildren, Sam (Candice) and Amelia, and three great grandchildren, Max, Echo and Zoe.

Contributions should be made to the Catherine Vance Endowment for the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church at 4436 East McKinley Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008. Visitation is scheduled for 5:00pm-7:30pm with a Parastos starting at 7:30pm on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at St. Sava, 4436 E McKinley St, Phoenix, AZ 85008. Funeral service will be at 10:00am, Monday, February 9, 2015 at St. Sava, with a graveside to follow at Green Acres Cemetery, 401 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.