Catherine Veronica LaCroix

Catherine Veronica Hrbolich La Croix, age 91, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2014, surrounded by her family. She is preceded in death by her husband Merrill Robert La Croix, and their infant son Leo. She leaves behind six children; Mark (Ruth), Fairfax, VA; Robert (Brenda), Fairfax, VA; Mary Irvin (Raymond), Greenville, SC; Thomas (Shirley), Raphine, VA; Kevin (Catherine), Shaker Heights, OH; Kate Gibson (Kris), Friendsville, MD; 15 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren with more on the way.

Catherine was born in Conway, PA on February 25, 1923. As a young adult she sang on live radio, impressing the studio musicians with her beautiful singing voice. As an airline ticket agent for Capitol Airlines she met her husband-to-be, a naval war veteran in Minneapolis, MN. They were married in 1948. Catherine and Merrill moved their young family to Fairfax Virginia in late 1954. Catherine loved mothering her large family and was skilled at doing a lot with a little: cooking, sewing, and knitting. As a devout Catholic and a founding member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church she was as much a part of St. Leo as St. Leo was a part of her, serving in the religious education program, singing in the choir, and volunteering in the parish office. Her affectionate nature and demonstative renditions of “You Are My Sunshine” will be missed by family and friends.

Visitation will be held at the Everly Funeral Home – 10565 Main Street Fairfax, VA – Thursday, June 19th from 6-8 pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church – 3700 Old Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22030 at 2 p.m on Friday June 20th. The family will be greeting friends and relatives immediately after the service at the church. Burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to encourage donations to Catholic Charities of Arlington Diocese ( http://www.ccda.net/ ) or Capital Caring (http://www.capitalcaring.org/join-us/donate/ ).