Catherine Thelma Little

Catherine Little Obituary

LITTLE Catherine Thelma Little, age 91, died Tuesday, September 02, 2003 at her daughter's residence. Survivors include a daughter, Sandra Kay Barnett and her husband John, Erie; several nieces and nephews: Judy Stear and her husband Timothy, Erie; Diane Little, Theodore Little, Erie; Charles Little and his wife Patricia, Atlanta, GA; Thomas Little and his wife Val, San Diego; two stepgrandchildren: Steven Barnett and his wife Kathy, Erie and Nicholas Barnett and his wife Lynn, of Miami. Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home, 602 West 10th Street on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family with private interment in Erie Cemetery. (Thurs.-4)

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Published by Erie Times-News from Sep. 3 to Sep. 4, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Catherine Little

Sponsored by Sandra Barnett, daughter.

13 Entries

Cheri Johnson Urda

August 4, 2007

Sandy,

I just today discovered quite by accident, about your Mother's passing. I am deeply saddened for your loss. I began dancing in her basement, and my daughter, Karla, danced at the studio (as well as being one of the mascots for the Little's Angels). I know your Mom's influence on my daughter is one of the reasons my grandaughter also dances and competes in dance competitions.

Catherine was truly an inspiration to all, what a great lady. You have some big shoes to fill, but as I recall, you were filling them just fine! Be proud and know that your Mother was loved.

I hope you remember me, as a young girl I lived a block away from you. Those were the days, what fun we had dressing up in all those costumes. I think of you and your Mom often, with much love in my heart.

Cheri Johnson Urda

Beth Karle

February 3, 2007

We remember Catherine with love each year, on this day - her special day, her birthday. We miss her and will always remember her love of her students, her dance, and her Sandy - who we love too! Beth (Stoloff) Karle & Meredith (Stoloff) Gantshar.
Beth Karle (Jamison, PA )

Beth Karle

February 2, 2007

Rashida Mithani

February 2, 2005

Happy Birthday to a wonderful women who is missed greatly.

Judith Guthrie

August 28, 2004

Years ago my sisters Rosalie, and Cheryl and I took dance lessons at Catherine Little Dance Studio at Sixth and State Street. The view from the exercise bar of State Street and the park was nice, and I remember what a great person Catherine Little was. I was very surprised looking back how hard it was to find any information about her life anywhere. As great an example as she was to everyone, I suppose I expected to see her name a lot in Erie's history. Am I looking in the wrong spots? Erie really did lose a great lady, but heaven's gates must have opened wide for her!

Judith (Fulton) Guthrie

( a short term student from the late 50's)

Tanya (Kondzielski) De Felippis

September 4, 2003

What a kicking lady, I'm sure she will be missed by the Erie dancing communtiy. I remember all her vitality as we watched at the recitals when I was a young girl.

Colleen Brennan

September 4, 2003

Dear Sandra and all of the wonderful people who are associated with the Little's Dance Studio:

We just wanted to express our deepest sympathy with the passing of Catherine Little. Our daughter Catherine began dancing at Little's just one year ago at the age of 3--we thoroughly enjoyed her first year of dance and look forward to many years to come. It will not seem the same to walk up those stairs and to not see Catherine greeting us every Saturday morning--our community has suffered a great loss. May God be with you at this very difficult time. You are in our prayers.

The Brennan Family

Roger Prehoda

September 4, 2003

Sandra-

I'm so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. She was an incredible woman and the best friend kids in Erie ever had. I was a drummer in "Little's Angels" back in the 70's and remember vividly how Catherine would march (dance) alongside the drum corps for the length of every parade we performed at (including that Miss America parade in Niagara Falls, NY when the temperature was 97 degrees and half the drumline ended up passed out along the route!) I have many fond memories of those days - my first three girlfriends were twirlers! All of those great times were made possible by Catherine and her endless drive to provide a place for Erie kids to dance and perform. I started off feeling sad at her loss but my memories of her have brightened my day.

Thank you Catherine.

Kim Whitehill

September 3, 2003

Sandy,

No one knows better than you what a wonderful, loving, and generous woman your mother was. I've often thought over the years about all the time I spent at that dance studio, beginning when I was five up until I moved to Texas at the age of 22. I didn't realize it at the time, but not only did I receive dance lessons, I received life lessons as well. Your mother was a tremendous role model for young women. I'm going to guess that she was one of a handful of businesswomen in the City of Erie in the 1960's. Long before the feminist movement began, Catherine was a living example that a woman could make her own way in the world and be incredibly successful. That dance studio was my home away from home, a place I looked forward to going to every week. I have to laugh sometimes when I think about when I was a teenager during the "fabulous" disco years. I would be at home doing homework and the telephone would ring and your mother would be on the other end. "Kimmy, what are you doing?", she would say. It turned out there would be a disco class going on and some poor man didn't have a dance partner, so she would call some of us to come down and help out. Another memory I have is of the marching unit -- again in the 1970's. I was in the ladies drill team, and that was the year we wore those cute little Gibson Girl costumes with the bustle in the back and we carried those parasols. Anyway, we were about to get disqualified for the rest of the parade season because we didn't carry guns like all the other drill teams. Actually, I think the others were just mad because we kept winning everywhere we went, so they had to find some way to get rid of the competition. All I remember is Catherine told whoever was in charge that her girls would never carry guns. End of discussion! I could go on and on with so many memories. Just know that I am thinking of you and keeping you and your family in my prayers. How lucky you are to have had such a special woman as your mother!

Much Love -- Kim Whitehill

Maria Serafini Namey

September 3, 2003

I have so many fond memories of Catherine and the Little Dance Studio. I first started taking lessons in the basement of her house in 1954 and continued on and off until 1983 when I moved to Miami. Catherine was so skilled at her craft. Erie has lost a star. She made growing up in Erie special to thousands of kids, including my daughter Lisa. I'm sure she's dancing in heaven. My sincere sympathy to Sandra and family.

Fondly, Maria Namey

ROSEMARIE KONOPKA

September 3, 2003

SHE WAS A GREAT LADY AND WILL BE MISSED BY MANY.

CHRISSY VAUGHN

September 3, 2003

CATHRINE LITTLE, AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN WITH THE BIGGEST HEART EVER OF TEACHING CHILDREN MORE THEN JUST DANCE, HER MEMORIES WILL LIVE ON IN SO MANY OF OUR HEARTS.

Dora Sementelli

September 3, 2003

One of the greatest dance teachers I ever had. I was a member of the "Dancing Mothers" way back when, and admired Catherine and her teaching methods. My deepest sympathy to Sandy and her family on their great loss. Catherine is no doubt now teaching the angels to move with all the style and grace that she possessed. She will be greatly missed.

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