Catherine M. Hildreth

Catherine M. Hildreth VIRGINIA BEACH - Catherine Maria Murphy Hildreth, 86, of the 1200 block of Alliance Drive, died Feb. 23, 2009, in a Virginia Beach hospital. Mrs. Hildreth, known as Kay, was born in New York City April 18, 1922, the daughter of the late Congressman James J. Murphy and Maria Bruns Murphy formerly of Staten Island, N.Y. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island and attended Centenary Junior College, Hackettstown, N.J., and Pace Institute of New York. She was married for 25 years to the late Rear Adm. James Bertram Hildreth, U.S. Navy, until his death in 2006. Mrs. Hildreth served in World War II as a Coast Guard SPAR. She was a longtime volunteer for Meals on Wheels of Virginia Beach, a member of the Virginia Beach General Hospital Auxiliary, and a member of the Catholic Community at First Landing Chapel, Fort Story. She was a corresponding secretary for the Princess Anne Country Club Ladies Golf Association. She also was married to, and later divorced from, the late Capt. Henry E. Steel, U.S. Coast Guard formerly of Norfolk from 1942 to 1970. She is survived by her loving daughters, Kathryn S. Pione of Columbus, Ohio, and Carol S. Wood of Charlottesville, Va.; two stepsons, James M. Hildreth and his wife Martha of Murrells Inlet, S.C., and Kevin S. Hildreth of Charleston, S.C.; 13 grandchildren; 21 great- grandchildren; two sons-in-law, Timothy L. Pione and William H. Wood; and a beloved brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. James J. Murphy of Staten Island. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel. A funeral Mass will be held in Star of the Sea Catholic Church Saturday at noon. Interment will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, 6171 Kempsville Circle, Norfolk. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.