Catharine Garvey

Baldwinsville, NY-Catharine Garvey (nee Schmieder) a lifelong resident of Albany NY passed away peacefully of natural causes on November 9th in Baldwinsville, NY surrounded by her family. She was born on April 26, 1916, daughter of Augustus Schmieder and Anna Fisch Schmieder. She was preceded in death by her brothers Rev. Jude Schmieder (OFM) and Joseph Schmieder, and sisters Mary Schmieder Giarve and Onna Schmieder Pollock. She is also preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, James Thomas Garvey and an infant boy. Catharine was a graduate of Vincentian Institute and Albany State Teachers College where she majored in chemistry. She was a teacher in the Albany Diocese parochial schools, Our Lady of Angels and Blessed Sacrament School and is remembered fondly by her many students. After retiring from Blessed Sacrament in 1980 she devoted her considerable wit and energy to volunteer activities including: teaching English as a second language, religion to the mentally disabled, tutoring at the Albany School for the Blind. She was also a docent at the Albany Institute of History and Art, a volunteer for the American Red Cross, swimming instructor of water aerobics at the Albany Public Bath, a lay minister at Blessed Sacrament where she also sang in the church choir. In 2001 she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Capital District Senior Issues Forum. Catharine enjoyed classical music, especially opera, was an accomplished pianist, often frequented the theatre and the ballet, enjoyed line dancing, square dancing, swimming, reading (especially mystery stories), gardening, travel, needlework of all kinds, ice-skating, watching baseball, tennis and boxing. She wrote short stories for her grand children and loved puzzles and word games, especially Scrabble. She is survived by David Thomas Garvey (Kathleen), Katherine Peyser (Richard), James S. Garvey (Catherine), M. Kristine Kolker (Michael), eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be Wednesday November 13 from 3-6pm at McVeigh Funeral Home in Albany. The funeral will be held on Thursday the 14th at 10:30am, at Blessed Sacrament Church (605 Central Ave, Albany). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Blessed Sacrament School, 607 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206, in honor of Catharine Garvey. To leave a message for the family, obtain directions or view other helpful services, please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

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Catharine Garvey

April 26, 1916 - November 9, 2013