Catherine McCaffery

Long-time Santa Rosa resident, Catherine McCaffery, 80, reposed in the Lord Saturday, May 24th. She is survived by her brother, V. Rev. John Philip McCaffery and sister-in-law Jenny, nieces Mary Katherine, Megan, nephew Peter and grand-niece Madison and a host of dear friends.

Sr. Kate, as she was familiarly known, was a native of Oakland, graduating with high honors from Skyline High School. She went on to attend Mt. Holyoak college. A lifelong avid reader, historian and linguist, she traveled widely, living for some years in the south of France. She also worked for many years as an executive secretary at Bank of California, San Francisco.

As a convert to the Eastern Orthodox Faith, she served for many years as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Christ the Savior Brotherhood, an Orthodox philanthropic foundation,  instrumental in the founding and establishment of the well known San Francisco Rafael House Family Shelter. Continuing her travels, she visited numerous holy places of  Christian pilgrimage, in Eastern Europe, the Near East, Jerusalem and America. In addition, she led the Board of Directors of the Valaam Society of America through many years, supporting Christian ministry and education in Russia before and after the fall of communism, and did numerous other acts of service and charity in the Name of the Lord.

Funeral Services will be held at Holy Dormition Orthodox Church, 1521 Rose Ave, Santa Rosa CA 95407:

Vigil for the Departed - Mon. June 2, at 6PM, followed by the traditional reading of the Psalter by members of the Parish community.

Funeral - Tues. June 3 at 10 AM, followed by interment at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park, 1700 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472, and a memorial meal at the Parish hall.