Catherine Elizabeth Michaels

Catherine Elizabeth Michaels, 58
(nee Catherine Diane Moon)
Spring Burial
OAKLAND -- Catherine E. Michaels, 58, of Oakland, died unexpectedly at Inland Hospital on Feb. 26, 2011, after a brief illness. She is sadly missed by all who loved her.
A spring burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at Riverside Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend.
Catherine was born on May 4, 1952, the first child of John R. Moon Sr. and Margaret L. (Shoemaker) Moon Rice. She and her brother John, born a year later, traveled the country extensively with their parents during the first five years of her life, until the family settled down in her mother's home town of Portland. In Portland, Catherine attended Nathan Clifford Elementary School, King Junior High School, and was a 1970 graduate of Portland High School. She went on to college at the University of Southern Maine.
Catherine worked for many years as a systems analyst for Maine Savings Bank in Portland, until that institution's demise in the 1980s. Thereafter, she continued her career in Information Technology with a software company in Fairfax, Va., and loved living in the greater Washington, D.C. area with all its many attractions. She finally settled in Oakland when she obtained the position of Manager, Information Systems at Inland Hospital. There she worked until her retirement about five years ago.
Among her many interests were spending time with her family and friends, particularly her partner of many years Phil Morey of Madison and her friend Dan Savage and his family of Oakland.
Catherine Michaels
She became well-known by everyone who knew her as someone you could always count on for great conversation, guidance, and advice, and was always there with a ready smile and a helping hand. She also loved spending time with children, cooking for others, and visiting friends.
Catherine loved animals, including her own golden retriever 'Abby' and her brother's Lhasa Apso 'Buddy.' In recent years she derived much pleasure from her involvement with her friends at the Waterville Christian Fellowship. She especially enjoyed Operation Christmas Kids, which provided presents to children in need. Christmas was Catherine's favorite holiday, and she always volunteered at church to wrap Christmas gifts of others before and after services.
Catherine is survived by her brother, John R. Moon Jr. of Falmouth, her brother, James M. Rice, his wife Jennifer, and children, Sarah and Amanda of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; her uncle, Terrance Shoemaker and his wife Charlotte of Ocala, Fla., her uncle, Roger Shoemaker and his wife Linda of Windham, her uncle, Stephen Shoemaker and his wife April of Old Wyke, N.J.; her cousin, Lisa Grear and husband Philip of Naples, Fla., her cousin, Shawn Shoemaker and his wife Jody of Waterboro; along with dozens of extended family members. She was predeceased by her father, John R. Moon Sr. of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., her mother, Margaret L. Rice of Falmouth, her step-father, Richard L. Rice; and her sister, Christine E. Rice of Cape Elizabeth.
Arrangements made by the Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland.