Catherine Mary Lahey

With great sadness and love in our hearts, we announce the passing of Catherine Mary (Wolters) Lahey, 93, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She passed into eternal life peacefully, surrounded by her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren on the evening of August 26th, 2026.

Catherine was the seventh child of a family of eleven, born to William (Bill) Henry Wolters, and Catherine Mary (Duncan) Wolters, on April 24th, 1933, at the Atchison Kansas Hospital. Catherine grew up in the quaint little town of Atchison, Kansas, made famous by the song, “On The Atchison, Topeka, and The Santa Fe,” named for the railroad line that ran through and supplied their little town. Catherine attended Saint Benedict Grammar School, then went on to Mount Saint Scholastica Academy for high school. Catherine also attended Mount Saint Scholastica College for one year.

During her younger years, Catherine babysat for friends and family to earn a little cash, making twenty-five cents an hour. During her summer breaks in high school, Catherine did some secretarial work for the local Pillsbury plant, as well as detasseling corn for the Mangelsdorf Seed Company. She and two of her sisters received a whopping seventy-five cents an hour working all day in the hot Kansas corn fields, which was quite a bit of money back then. Their favorite part of the day was when their foreman would say, “It’s free-firty girls!” at the end of their shift.

In 1948, at the tender age of fifteen, Catherine’s sister’s boyfriend brought along a sidekick to the Wolters’ household. That sidekick’s name was Jim Lahey, who was attending Saint Benedict’s College at that time. Jim met Catherine, and the rest is history! Catherine and Jim both loved to dance, so on the weekends, they often went to the Hilltop Dance Hall, or they drove across the Missouri River, and danced at Randels in Missouri. Jim swept Catherine off her feet, and five years after meeting, on July 18th, 1953, Catherine married the love of her life at Saint Benedict’s Catholic Church, Catherine’s cherished childhood parish. She received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation, all at St. Benedict’s.

Catherine and Jim moved to Dodge City, Kansas where their first son was born, and Jim made a living repossessing cars. After some intense encounters with angry customers, the Laheys decided that the repossession business was not for them. In 1955, Catherine and Jim made the move to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they lived in a charming Victorian-era home on North Tejon Street. While residing there, the Laheys welcomed two more children. In 1957, Catherine and Jim had a small home built in Security, Colorado, conveniently located right across the street from the elementary school. While living in Security, the Laheys were charter members of Holy Family Catholic Church. Catherine was also one of the founding members of The Catholic Daughters of America, Holy Family Church Court #1794 in Security. Prior to her death, Catherine had been a member for 67 years and was the oldest member of her court. The family quickly outgrew the Security home by welcoming another four children. In 1964, Catherine and Jim built a much bigger home on the “outskirts” of town in Colorado Springs. This was when Academy Boulevard was still a dirt road, and Academy Boulevard and Constitution were the outskirts of town. It was while living in this home that the Laheys welcomed their final two children, bringing the total number to nine. Here in Colorado Springs, their family became members of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Catherine and Jim were active contributing parishioners for over 62 years! Many of their children received their Sacraments of Baptism, Confession, and First Holy Communion there. All nine of their children received the Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Trinity. Some of their children were married there.

Catherine’s first and foremost love and career was taking care of her family. She loved being a wife and mother and raising their children. She enjoyed having a clean, tidy, organized home. Catherine stressed a strong work ethic and led by example in everything that she did. She was a wonderful homemaker and an excellent cook. There was always something delicious made for dinner, and she always made enough to feed an army, which was understandable! Once Jim retired from his Civil Service accounting job, Catherine took on the challenge of a new career, working for the Public Trustee’s Office, in the foreclosure department. She worked there for a total of thirteen years, and at the age of 65, she retired.

Catherine and Jim took their large family on many vacations throughout the years. The most frequent and fun destinations were Solomon, Kansas and Atchison, Kansas, their hometowns where their families still resided. Once the Laheys bought a motor home, traveling with such a large group became much easier. Fishing at the lakes in Cripple Creek was always a treat for the family. Catherine and Jim drove to Yellowstone, California, New Mexico, Dinosaur National Monument, and Mount Rushmore, just to name a few destinations. Catherine, Jim, and Ed also vacationed in Alaska and made it over to see England and Ireland twice.

Catherine was very creative in nature. She learned how to sew at a very young age; she made costumes for her daughters’ ballet performances, as well as Halloween costumes for all the kids. Catherine once took a cake decorating class, and began creating beautiful, elaborate cakes for her family and friends. She must have made thousands of cakes in her lifetime! Catherine also knitted and crocheted, creating crocheted vests, baby blankets and other various projects. Catherine and Jim hosted countless birthdays, holidays, bridge parties, and numerous other get-togethers in their home. They both loved to entertain family and friends. They always made holidays, birthdays, and celebrations special, creating wonderful and lifelong memories for each and every one of their children and grandchildren!

Catherine loved and lived her Catholic faith. Throughout her life it was important for her to pass her Catholic faith on to her children and grandchildren. She, Jim and Ed loved attending Mass every Sunday. They enjoyed visiting with friends over coffee and donuts after Mass. Catherine and Jim served as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. She, Jim and Ed attended Bible Study classes for years. She prayed throughout the day and night and had a devotion to Mary and praying the Rosary. Catherine’s legacy will live on in the love that she shared, and in the lessons and teachings she passed down to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be so dearly missed. We look forward to being with her in heaven!

Catherine was preceded in death by her husband Jim of nearly 73 years; her parents; and siblings, Margaret Mary (Joe) Johannes, Bill Jr. (Edna Mae), John (Terry), Phil, Francis Xavier (infant), Gere (Jim) Greene, Tom (Earlene). Catherine’s sweet sister, Theresa Miller, passed into eternal life six days after Catherine.

Left to cherish Catherine’s memories are her children, Jim Jr. (Nancy), Maribeth (Steve) Netherton, Mike (Jayme), Pat (Craig), Maureen (Rich) Scheuer, Bill (Bobbi), Cathleen Berve, Colleen (Greg) Garland, and Ed. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and family relatives.

Survivors also include a sister and brother, Sister Dorothy Wolters (OSB), Mike (Connie) Wolters; one sister-in-law, Roberta Wolters, and one brother-in-law, Ray Miller.

Donations in memory of Catherine may be made to Mount St Scholastica at MOUNTOSB.ORG/DONATE.

Visitation Service: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.; with Rosary at 5:30 p.m.; and Visiting & Dinner Reception from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Swan Law Funeral Home, 501 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Funeral Mass: Thursday, September 24, 2026; Visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Rosary at 10:30 a.m.; and Mass of Christian Burial from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; with Luncheon Reception to follow in the Hope House from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3122 Poinsetta Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Committal Service / Burial: Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, 1005 Hancock Expressway, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.