Death Notice - Catherine McLoughlin passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, November 10, 2015. She was the beloved wife of Thomas J. McLoughlin and loving mother to Anne Lane, Joan Cooney, Thomas McLoughlin, Jr., Kathleen McLoughlin, Mary McLoughlin, Dorothy Donohue, and William McLoughlin. Catherine was blessed with grandchildren Michelle Baptiste, Daniel Lane, Paul Cooney, Maureen Amiryar, Laura Corbelli, Matthew Karlitz, Joanna Karlitz, Justin Magnus, Ashley Eliasoph, Kimberly Eliasoph, Emily Magnus, Thomas Magnus, Amanda Eliasoph, Patrick Donohue, Brendan McLoughlin, Peter Donohue, Mark Donohue, Katie McLoughlin, Jack Donohue, Mary Bridget McLoughlin, and Michael McLoughlin, as well as eight great-grandchildren.
Catherine was born in 1923 to parents Edward and Bridget Donegan and was sister to Edward Donegan. Catherine grew up in New York City, and graduated as a registered nurse from Saint Vincent’s Nursing School. During World War II, she served as a nurse in the US Navy.
On November 9, 1946 she married the love of her life at Incarnation Church in Washington Heights. Catherine’s working life paralleled her family life. She first worked at the New York Foundling Hospital, then St. Vincent’s hospital in the maternity ward, later at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Yonkers, and finally at the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale. During this time, she raised her large family, welcomed many grandchildren, and cared for her mother and mother-in-law.
Catherine was a devoted Catholic and longtime parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church. She was a Eucharistic minister for many years bringing comfort to many of the parish’s homebound and elderly. In 1979, while working at the Hebrew Home, Catherine’s mother, Bridget, was admitted as the first Catholic patient. Soon after, Catherine arranged for Easter mass to be celebrated and this was the beginning of a long association between the Hebrew Home and St. Margaret’s Church. While working at the Hebrew Home and even after retiring, Catherine arranged for masses to be offered at the Hebrew Home. Catherine continued to live her faith and compassion by becoming the first coordinator of the Interfaith Volunteers at St. Margaret’s, recruiting and overseeing the volunteer group as well as driving those in need to medical appointments. She later received the Interfaith Caregivers Spirit Award for her work from the President of the Borough of the Bronx in 2001.
Catherine will be remembered for her extraordinarily caring nature, her quiet acceptance of hardships, strong faith in God, and an inner peace. She will be missed greatly by her many family members and friends. The wake will be held on Friday from 3-5 and 7-9pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx NY. The Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Saturday at 9:45am at St. Margaret of Cortona Church. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.