Cathy Weaver, former Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Wilmington, returned home to the Lord on Saturday, July 25, after a long battle with cancer.
Born Catherine Adelaide Patterson, she was the oldest daughter of the late William J. and Mary Patterson. She was married for over forty years to John R. Weaver Jr., and the proud mother of Christy, Molly, and John Weaver III. Her extended family includes her mother-in-law Doris Weaver, and siblings Bill and Jane Patterson, Meg and Chuck Reller, Bob and Deb Patterson, Carolyn and Bill Best, Tricia and Mike Blake, and Allen Weaver, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. She loved her dogs (Finn and Ollie) and found great joy in their presence and antics.
Cathy graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA where she was the first female student body president and the first female to be awarded the Pepper Prize for outstanding student leadership. She earned a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans, LA and completed the course requirements for an ED.D. at Neumann University where she also studied Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction. Cathy also earned certificates in counseling from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Montessori administrator’s certificate from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education at the College of New Rochelle.
Cathy began her career as an admissions councilor at Lafayette and then joined Hercules incorporated where she worked in employment, compensation, and professional development. She also worked in Human Resources consulting before joining the educational team at Wilmington Montessori School. She held leadership positions there and then became Principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary School (1998-2003). She also served as Assistant Superintendent (2003-2007) and Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Wilmington (2007-2012).
From education, Cathy moved to increasingly responsible positions within Catholic Healthcare. She was the Mission and Human Resources leader for Saint Francis Healthcare and also served as the Regional Senior Vice President for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, providing Mission, Human Resources, and Community Health and Well-Being Services for Catholic hospitals in the Pennsylvania and Delaware area. Cathy’s final place of employment was as director of the Marydale Retirement Village, where she worked with a team of dedicated professionals from Catholic Charities to serve seniors and disabled persons who qualify for housing in this lovely garden apartment community. She retired from Marydale but continued to volunteer in service of the members of the Marydale community. She also gave innumerable hours of volunteer service to various charitable organizations and those in need.
Cathy was blessed by the people who were part of the communities she served, and she was lifted up by their prayers, their service, and their desire to care for those who were poor and vulnerable. She was inspired and appreciated the opportunity to work with many religious sisters and communities during her career, and sends special appreciation to the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia who embraced and encouraged her throughout her life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Church of the Holy Child, 2500 Naamans Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810, on August 3 at 11:30 a.m., with the burial to follow at Lombardy Cemetery. A visitation will be held an hour before the Mass beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a visitation held on Aug. 2 at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE 19803, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Cathy and her family thank all who touched her life with gratitude for their presence and caring. Memorial gifts may be made to the SFDE Colleague Assistance Program at Saint Francis Healthcare (701 North Clayton Street, Wilmington, DE 19805), the Marydale Retirement Village Activities Fund (135 Jeandell Drive, Newark, DE 19713), or New Beginnings Next Step, a program dedicated to helping returning citizens move forward from incarceration (P.O. Box 7211, Wilmington, DE 19803).
(Chandler Funeral Home)
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Funeral services for Mrs. Weaver:
Sunday, August 2 – Vigil at Chandler’s Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE, 4:00-6:00 pm
Monday, August 3 – Visitation at the Church of the Holy Child, 2500 Naamans Road, Wilmington, DE, 10:30-11:30am
Monday, August 3 – Mass of Christian Burial, Church of the Holy Child, 2500 Naamans Road, Wilmington, DE, 11:30am
