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Catherine Ann Pacyna

About

Tulane University

FUNERAL HOME

Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home

3827 Canal Street

New Orleans, Louisiana

Catherine Pacyna Obituary

Catherine Ann Pacyna, wife, mother, friend and advocate, found peace on Friday, February 27 after an epic battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Greg Oliver, by her only son, Zachary Oliver, and by her mother, Lucretia Seferlis Pacyna. Cathy was predeceased by her father John "Jack" Andrew Pacyna and her brother John Stacey Pacyna. Cathy was born on Jan 15, 1955 in upstate New York. She left her childhood home in 1980 and established her adult life in New Orleans with Greg, her declared soulmate. Cathy loved the music, food, but mostly the spirited people of her adopted home. She knew few strangers as she was an active, contributing member of her community. Cathy earned a Master's degree in Social Work at Tulane University in 1981. She delivered professional services to children and families at Children's Hospital, Mercy Family Center, and St. Benedict's Catholic School, and in her small private practice. She was an active parishioner at Our Lady of the Rosary Church and a formidable advocate in the Bywater Neighborhood Association and the Parkview Neighborhood Association. Cathy lived her life with passion and enthusiasm. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. A visitation and a funeral mass will be held on Saturday March 7 at 10:30am Mass at 12PM at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 3368 Esplanade Ave , New Orleans, LA 70119. Interment will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cathy Pacyna Service Learning Fund, c/o Catholic Foundation, 1000 Howard Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113, which supports a program that Cathy initiated and of which she was always quite proud. Donations to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society (http://www.lls.org/) are also welcomed. To view and sign the online guestbook please www.schoenfh.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The New Orleans Advocate from Mar. 4 to Mar. 7, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Catherine Pacyna

23 Entries

Jil MacMenamin

February 26, 2022

Kathy - I still think of you and smile. It will be hard to have our 50th Class reunion without you - please look down on us next year and protect us and know we are remembering you and all our wonderful school years together. xoxo

Pastor Bill Steinmetz

March 16, 2015

Cathy was a dear friend and a special sister in Christ. My wife Judy and I were privileged to be with her during special spiritual moments in her life including giving her heart to Jesus, adult water baptism and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Her faith in God and love for others shone forth from her on these special occasions. She is missed deeply by her Mom here in Granville and her extended family at Granville Assembly of God. There will be a sweet reunion in that perfect place 'by and by.'
Blessings to all who loved her,
Pastor Bill Steinmetz, Granville AG Church

Dave Thomas

March 14, 2015

Cathy represented all that is good in this world. She always had a smile and a nice word for all.

Barbara Quinlan Setar

March 14, 2015

Deeply saddened by Cathy's passing. She truly was an earth angel who touched so many lives with her genuinely kind, caring & gentle manner. I'm blessed for having known her. She will be greatly missed.

Mary O'Brien Boisvert

March 13, 2015

Cathy and I have been friends forever. There's no words to express how I feel. I want Greg and Zachary to know that I'm thinking of them and know she loved them very much and was very proud of them. I remember when Cathy met Greg she was very happy and glad she had met the men of her dreams. Cathy has and always will hold a special place in my heart.

March 12, 2015

I was able to see the beauty and gifts that Cathy possessed, and though I didn't know her a long period of time,it didn't matter, for she was so loving to me as if she knew me all of my life. I know she will be dearly missed. My deepest condolences to Greg and Zach. Love, Laurie O. Dawes

Jil MacMenamin

March 12, 2015

To Greg, Zach and Lucretia:
I grew up with Cathy, we were 4-year cheerleaders together - Cathy was the tallest, and I was the next to the tallest - maybe a 1/2 an inch shorter. So we were always standing together, shouting together and hugging together. She had a magic light inside her - that took every happy moment and magnified it, and accepted the unhappy one and outshined it. We grew up together, got in trouble together, walked up-Street together, had sodas after school together. She was one of my bridesmaids. When her Dad left for heaven - all her girlfriends came to the church service and afterward had lunch together with family and friends. We all sat together at a long table and talked and laughed just like we were in high school and not a moment of time had passed. Cathy's mom Lucretia said it was fun to watch all us girls again ... as if we had never grown up, moved away and had our own lives and families. It is not often you can just be a kid again. But with Cathy - she always had that beautiful child within - that when you looked at her you could see the joy and you had to smile. Even if things were not perfect. I have to think that Heaven needed her - someone who could find joy in-each-moment, and live through any of life's sadness. My heart aches, that she left so soon, but I know Heaven is even brighter.

Jil MacMenamin

March 12, 2015

To Greg, Zach and Lucretia:
I grew up with Cathy, we were 4 year cheerleaders together - Cathy was the tallest, and I was the next to the tallest - maybe a 1/2 an inch shorter. So we were always standing together, shouting together and hugging together. She had a magic light inside her - that took every happy moment and magnified it, and accepted the unhappy one and outshined it. We grew up together, got in trouble together, walked up-Street together, had sodas after school together. She was one of my bridesmaids. When her Dad left for heaven - all her girlfriends came to the church service and afterward had lunch together with family and friends. We all sat together at a long table and talked and laughed just like we were in high school and not a moment of time had passed. Cathy's mom Lucretia said it was fun to watch all us girls again, as if we had never grown up, moved away and had our own lives and families. It is not often you can just be a kid again. But with Cathy - she always had that beautiful child within - that when you looked at her you could see the joy and you had to smile. Even if things were not perfect. I have to think that Heaven needed her - someone who could find the joy in the moment, and live through any of life's sadness. My heart aches thinking that she is gone, but I know Heaven is even brighter.

Susan Vladyka Dickerson

March 11, 2015

Many thoughts and prayers to the family during this difficult time.

Paula Jurnak Wax

March 11, 2015

Cathy was a close friend since kindergarten. Her passing is a tremendous loss. My heart goes out to Greg, Zachary and Lucretia.

Paula Grottoli-Sanchez

March 11, 2015

I am devastated, I have no words...only loving memories of my beautiful friend...

Naomi Teitelbaum Nagy

March 11, 2015

My condolences to her family. I remember her always having a smile on her face from Granville High School days.

Thomas Mavor

March 9, 2015

Mr. Oliver and Zach, please know how sorry I am at the loss of your wife and mother. I remember her presence at Brother Martin volunteering and advocating for you, Zach, in the way a mother knows best--with love and dedication.

Beth Dardis

March 7, 2015

She worked with me a long time ago, but her work made a huge difference to me. I will keep the Pacyna family in my prayers. I know she is in peace with Christ.

Martha Hicks Pofit

March 7, 2015

Sincerest condolences to the Pacyna family from Clark, Martha and Matt Hicks and families.

Joycelyn Heintz

March 7, 2015

Our talks were only about God and his love for us. Our prayers were for life and healing which He answered as you are now living life eternally healed with no pain or sorrow and in his loving arms. I will miss our special times together but so great full to God for blessing me with our Friendship. My condolences to Greg, Zack, family and friends

Joycelyn Heintz

March 7, 2015

Joanna Prouty

March 6, 2015

Cathy was the 8th kid at our dinner table while we were growing up! She overflowed with energy and enthusiasm for life and always added the sound of laughter to our household!!!! Her devotion to her family and community was integral to her positive, giving nature. Cathy will be missed and fondly remembered by all those she touched on her life.

Georgia Brown

March 6, 2015

I will miss my terrific cousin Cathy. Her quick laugh and keen insight always made any situation better. I will dearly miss you my cousin and friend.

Gigi

Mary Lewis

March 6, 2015

I never met a more wonderful person like Cathy, I used to always tell her she is nice and understanding,she use to always give me advice about jobs and going back to school.I will miss her. She will always be there Greg as your angel. God bless you and your family

Deborah Langhoff

March 5, 2015

I met Cathy on Frenchmen Street, happy, swinging through the Dream Palace, with an easy ability to strike up a conversation that was sincere and engaged. It seems now like we skipped across the decades...marriages, pregnancies, jingle bells, parties, carnivals, festivals, dinners, a few quiet Saturday afternoons at the kitchen table, too few loving embraces. She was fully a woman who cherished traditions, forward-looking, and perfectly of our time.

My friend Cathy was a warrior, a New Orleanian by choice, who claimed an art in living - to craft it, to squeeze the most out of it, to use it all up, to care about the everyday joys and to work for others as Becky Allen says, hawd, hawd, hawd.

Zach and Greg, you know too well how nurturing a mother, how cherished a wife....Alan and I and Megan and Erica and Brian are so sorry for your sad loss...how she did ramble...how she smiled and and how she danced!

Linda Shinglar

March 5, 2015

The world would be a better place if there were more people like Cathy. Her caring nature and desire to help people began long before she became an adult. Cathy and I grew up in the same neighborhood since we were 7 years old. Our friendship grew and remained throughout the years. About 10 years ago Cathy, Greg and Zach welcomed me into their home for a visit. I could see how Cathy had the happy life that she deserved. She loved being a wife and mother and had made so many friends in New Orleans. She had such a special gift and touched so many lives around her. We are all blessed to have her in our lives. I will treasure the special memories that I have. Greg, Zach, your family and many friends, may your precious memories of Cathy help you through your sadness.

Laura Anderson

March 5, 2015

Greg and Zach, it was such an honor for me to be chosen as your housekeeper during these last few months. I've know Cathy for years but we became much closer since I entered your home. In a short time I learned so much about Cathy including her determined spirit. I am heartbroken to lose such a lovely lady and can't even begin to imagine what you are feeling. Love to all of you and I will see you on Saturday.

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