The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Catherine Relihan

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Eagle Bridge – Catherine Relihan, 99, of Eagle Bridge, NY, died on February 22, 2013, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, after a brief illness.
Born on October 31, 1913, she was the youngest child of Sarah McAllen Relihan and Edward Relihan. She is pre-deceased by her parents, her brothers, Tom and Neil and his wife Margaret, her sisters, Agnes Relihan and Sara Relihan Meagher and husband Jack, and her niece, Margaret (Marie) Relihan.
ob-Relihan CatherineCatherine spent her childhood and teen years on the family farm as her father’s right hand and chauffeur. She attended Normal School at Oneonta State and received her teaching degree from SUNY New Paltz. She was an elementary school teacher for forty years. Most of those years were spent at Colonie Village School and, after centralization, Saddlewood School. She retired in 1974. After retirement she channeled her energies into vegetable gardening on the farm with her sisters and brother in-law, volunteer work at St. Patrick’s Church, the Mary McClellan Hospital auxiliary and the Cambridge Valley Garden Club.
Catherine is survived by her nephew, Edward Meagher and his wife Margaret Rogers-Meagher and their children Eamonn Meagher and Glennis Meagher, and by many cousins. Also surviving is honorary grandchild Amanda Timmerman. The family wishes to acknowledge the loving and supportive neighbors and friends who helped make it possible for Catherine to maintain her independence, especially Harold and Joyce Church, Jean Timmerman, the extended Andrews family, Peg the mail carrier, Dr. Matt Pender and the parish community of St. Patrick’s Church.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Wednesday, February 27, at 10 am from St. Patrick’s Church in Cambridge, NY. Burial will be later in the spring at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Cambridge. Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Tuesday from 3 to 6 pm.
Memorial contributions in Catherine’s memory can be made to St. Patrick’s Church – where she was a member of the congregation for ninety-nine years – or the Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad through the funeral home.
Thanks to the Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad and the staffs of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s ED, ICU and second floor east, who made Catherine’s final hours comfortable and peaceful.