Catherine Page Brinkley Petru

Cathy passed away peacefully after an extended battle with breast cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev Charles Brinkley and Sarah Byers Brinkley. Cathy is survived by her husband of 35 years, Gene Petru; son, Travis Petru and daughter-in-law, Nancy Elliott Petru; sister, Janice Anderson; and brother, Rich Brinkley.

Born in Kermit, Texas, Cathy later moved to Raymondville, Texas, when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Texas A&I Kingsville in 1976, and later took additional accounting hours at the University of Houston.

Cathy and her husband were high school sweethearts, and even though she jokingly called him a ‘ding-a-ling’ when they first started dating, they got married the day after they graduated from college. Her life was so filled with joy after the birth of her son, Travis, she promptly decided to leave her career as a tax accountant, and stay at home and devote all of her time to raising him. After Travis started pre-school, Cathy discovered that she harbored a fondness for children, and went on to teach pre-school for 20 years at First Presbyterian Church and Christ United Methodist Church, both in Sugar Land. On most weekends when Travis was growing up, Cathy and Gene could be found at the lake house, riding mopeds and water-skiing, or in the stands of a baseball field, cheering Travis on at his games.

Cathy was an avid reader from an early age; she delighted in her book clubs, and she especially enjoyed the camaraderie of her pre-school colleagues, and the opportunity to share her joy of reading with the next generation of readers. She was a lifelong lover of animals, and was a staunch supporter of the SPCA; Kelly (a golden retriever) and Remy (a French bulldog) were beloved and significant members of the Petru family. She loved to travel, and cherished the trips she took with her husband, none more so than the three week journey they took to watch the fall leaves turn before she was admitted to hospice care.

Cathy was a devoted wife, exceptional mother, and beautiful friend who radiated warmth and generosity, always ready with a compassionate word, a gracious smile, and an impeccable thank-you note. Cathy believed strongly in acknowledging the kindness in others. Her characteristic social grace and unwavering loyalty endeared her to every person fortunate to meet her. Her husband would like to extend particular gratitude to Lynn Boyd, who counseled and comforted Cathy in the rough months preceding her passing, as well as to Silverado Hospice and Griswold Special Care for making her final days serene.

A visitation with the family will be held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Sunday, December 11, 2011, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. at Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit). Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, December 12, 2011, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 4200 Cartwright Road in Missouri City, Texas, with longtime family friend Rev. David L. Northcutt, officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Houston. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Cathy’s memory be made to M D Anderson Cancer Center @ www.mdanderson.org.

Arrangements under the direction of The Settegast-Kopf Company@Sugar Creek, Sugar Land, TX.