Catherine Mary Costanza

Cathy was born July 14, 1938 in Newark, NJ to Harold & Catherine Petterson. She spent the first 10 years of her life living in NJ surrounded by much of her large, extended family. She had very fond, vivid memories of her childhood and time spent with her cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and her Grandparents. She would speak of these times with great joy and a twinkle in her eyes! It was in her early years that she developed a strong sense of family that carried through her whole life! Nothing was more important to Cathy than her family! One thing she would say often was, "Family is Everything!"

When Cathy was nearly 10 years old, her parents and two younger brothers moved to the Bay Area in California as her father got a job there. Here she went to school, attended church, and was involved in Girl Scouts. She loved High School, the sporting events, various clubs, hanging out with her friends, and dances. This is also when Cathy met the love of her life, Doug. The story goes that the two met at the school bus stop after she and her family moved to the neighborhood that Doug's family lived . Cathy was a Sophomore and Doug was a Freshman. He asked her to go get a soda with him one day after school and she went home and told her Mother, "This is the man I am going to marry!" Cathy graduated from Fremont High School in 1956, then attended San Jose State University for two years, in hopes of becoming an architect.

Doug & Cathy were married on May 25, 1958, and in June of 1959 their daughter, Kimberlei, was born. In April of 1961, their son, Todd, was born. In June of 1965 their family was complete when their second daughter, Jode, was born. Cathy loved her family well, and her children have fond memories of growing up with her being involved in their lives and activities. She was a room mother for their classrooms, frequent field trip chaperone, a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, softball manager, and much more! Whatever her children were involved in, she and Doug were always there to support them and cheer them on!

Cathy made their house a home and made every celebration and holiday special, especially Christmas ...she LOVED Christmas! Cathy enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She often sewed clothes for herself and her children. Her family has fond memories of times together at the family cabin in Lake Tahoe, and summer vacations where they would go on long rides in the car to arrive at places like Yosemite, Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Canyon to name a few. It was important to Cathy that their children not just read about places in school, but that they got to see them first hand. In all they visited most all of the Western States and Texas as a young family.

Cathy also had several close neighbor friends when her family was young. Together, they participated in bowling leagues, had Bunko nights and shared a lot of laughter! Her children remember growing up with a strong sense of family, and wonderful relationships with several of the families in their neighborhood which made their childhoods even richer. Her family has many great memories of time spend with extended family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins as well as great aunts and uncles. Family and community truly were very important to both Cathy and Doug.

When her children were grown and the last one was in High School, Cathy took a job as a travel agent. This was so much fun for her, as she and Doug had many opportunities to travel together and sometimes she even went with her fellow travel agents on all expense paid trips! She loved seeing new places, and learning about them as well! Together, she and Doug traveled parts of Europe, Italy, Greece, the Bahamas, Hawaii, Grand Cayman Islands, and more.

Cathy loved life! She enjoyed M & M's, desserts, adventures, travel, amusement park rides, etc., but she loved her family most. She and Doug's friends were very important as well, and several became as close as family. Cathy enjoyed every minute of being a Mom, and was thrilled when she began having grandchildren and great-grandchildren! In all, Cathy had 12 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and 2 more on the way! She was a treasure to all of them ...her family truly adored her as much as she adored them!

In 2003, Doug & Cathy relocated to Tumwater, Washington to be closer to two of their three children as all had moved from their home town of San Jose. About 6 years ago Cathy began showing signs of dementia, which had steadily progressed over the past several years. Though she struggled with short term memory, she never forgot who everyone in her family was which was a blessing for both her and them. The condition would often frustrate her, however, it did not define who she was. She was still the same gal who loved life, adored her family, and treasured every moment she got to spend with them. She also still had great love for her man, Doug. On Friday, November 13, 2015 Cathy's life travel passport was stamped one last time here, "HEAVEN!" Her family will greatly miss her sweet presence in their lives here, her smile, and that twinkle in her eyes!

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents, Harold & Catherine Petterson, her granddaughter, Kari, and great grandson, Franklin. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Doug Costanza, and her children Kimberlei (Jeff), Todd (Michelle), and Jode (Rich). She is also survived by her brothers Jim (Kathe) Petterson, and Ron (Theresa) Petterson, sister-in-law Linda (David), nieces and nephews, aunts & uncles, many cousins, her grandchildren and their spouses, great grandchildren, and several close friends. Cathy/Mom, our lives were made richer simply by having you in them. You will be dearly missed here by all who knew and loved you. We will carry on your great love for life and family, and live by your motto: "ALWAYS leave room for dessert!" Forever in our heart,s your beloved family and friends.

A funeral service to honor and celebrate Cathy's life will be held on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 at ll:00 am at Mills & Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater WA 98512. For those interested, there will be a viewing for two hours prior to service.

In leiu of flowers, Memorial/Tribute donations can be made in Cathy's name to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org