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Catherine Pelonero Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Dec. 31, 2024.

Catherine Pelonero

November 7, 1967 - December 19, 2024

Catherine Pelonero passed away on December 19, 2024 at her home in Los Angeles surrounded by her loving family.

Born Edna Catherine Pelonero in Alexandria, Virginia, she was raised in Buffalo, where she would become an award-winning playwright. Her comedy, "Modern Maturity," was produced at Alleyway Theatre and won the 1992 Artvoice Award for Outstanding New Play. She published several short plays, including "Family Names," which won the Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival.

Ms. Pelonero was the author of two bestselling true crime books, "Kitty Genovese," the definitive study of the famous 1963 murder, and "Absolute Madness," which told the story of the .22 Caliber Killer, who terrorized Buffalo in the early 1980s.

She is survived by her husband, native Buffalonian Josh Brewster, and sons, Brent and Shane; and mother, Trieva Pelonero; dear sister of Joseph (Tina) Pelonero, Francesca Pelonero, Trieva (Damian Gant) Pelonero, and Salvatore Pelonero. Her father, Salvatore Pelonero (deceased) was a veteran of the Buffalo Police Department.

Funeral services will be held at 10am on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 5011 White Oak Ave, Encino, CA, 91316. She will be interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to The Childrens Hospital of Buffalo Foundation.

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Recent Activity

May 7, 2025

Pauly posted to the memorial.

March 27, 2025

John Kiouses posted to the memorial.

February 21, 2025

James Simmons posted to the memorial.

9 Entries

Pauly

May 7, 2025

To Cathrine ...to Dear Dear Cathrine ::: I just found out at this moment on may 7, 2025 of your passing. I´m so sorry .... To you and your loved ones:::: we met in a most amazing way... with your amazing book absolute madness, I didn´t know you at the time I reached out to you on email with my phone number and you immediately called me after reading my message the first time you called me I never forget we spent three hours on the phone talking about my experiences that brought a connection to us I told you stories you were amazed by what I had to say and intrigued. We were serious in conversation ... about my experiences, we even cried together because it was a sad situation.... I enjoyed immensely our Texting ,phone calls just wishing each other happy holidays on the upcoming holidays..... I just want you to know Cathrine, that the time I did get to know you.... Was an exciting awesome, creative, knowledgeable, time for me you are an amazing woman. You´re in my prayers always god bless you.

Pauly

John Kiouses

March 27, 2025

God Bless Edna! She was a classy lady chock full of talent. She will be very missed by all who knew her.

James Simmons

February 21, 2025

I am saddened by this worlds loss of a woman who made understanding simple. Her voice tone was just so comforting and pleasant . Catherine, you will be missed.

Joe Pelonero

January 28, 2025

I wanted to share the eulogy that was given at her services

Hello everyone, my name is Joe Pelonero and I am Cat´s brother. Our family would like to thank all of you for being here to honor and say goodbye to Cat.
As her little brother I have to tell you how painful it is to lose the first person you looked up to even you didn´t know how much you looked up to her at the time.

Many of you know Cat was an accomplished writer, outstanding mother to Brent and Shane, great wife to Josh, a spectacular daughter and sister, and friend to so many.

Cat was always a step above the rest. One of my earliest memories is of her "voluntelling" my sister Fran and I to be in her Christmas play. She had us memorize lines and dress in costumes, and she directed and starred in the production. You knew she was going to do something artsy and You couldn´t say no to her even if you wanted to. Her personality was too big to avoid.
As a teenager, I think she was 15 years old, she rented out a hall at the local establishment and had tickets printed, yes printed, and sold them for $5 each. Now in the early 80s, everyone didn´t have printers, she had to go to a business and have this done. She was so mature that I don´t think the manager understood how young we were based on her professional preparation, and there may or may not have been alcoholic beverages served. Again, she was playing chess while other teenagers were playing checkers. She was always a step above.

We lived in a small town outside of Buffalo, and Cat knew that the area, and even the city of Buffalo was too small for her aspirations. So as a writer she said NY or LA is where I will be successful, and with the grit and determination- she just went. No hesitation even though she was experiencing success in Buffalo with her plays. No fear, she moved away, she was a step above.

Wouldn´t you know, she would meet a guy from Buffalo in LA. What are the chances, I guess you can take the girl out of Buffalo, but not the Buffalo out of the girl, Josh, also a creative type making his own way out in the big city and when they met, they hit it off. They supported each others arts and love blossomed. Pretty sure she scared Josh into asking my father for her hand in marriage as he did go to speak to my dad Big Sal. Now if you look at Josh, how could he be afraid of anyone? Well Big Sal was a 6 foot 2 Buffalo Cop that was always carrying if you know what I mean and this was his first daughter. Yikes! Well Josh survived and they were married and have two wonderful sons, Brent and Shane.

When Cat told me she had a publisher for her first book, you would have thought she won the lottery. i mean as a playwright that was already having works done on Broadway, this was the next step. And guess what, that first book and her second book both became best sellers. She made it. She was a step above.

But if you ever dare to think that was her happiest, not even close! I remember how excited she was telling me about both her pregnancies. Her love of LA and the arts was one thing, but her boys were off the charts. No matter how much success she had writing, Brent, Shane, you are her greatest legacy and what she cherished the most. She couldn´t be more proud of the fine young men you have become and nothing in the world made her happier.

And how will she be remembered?, well she is an accomplished playwright, a NY Times best selling author, was a leader at LA DWP, a great daughter and sister, awesome friend. But her grace in the face of adversity is a lesson we can all take with us. Fighting cancer for over two years is never easy for anyone. The pain, uncertainty, the fear, the depression, the perceived burden on others, it is too much for anyone. How did Cat handle this? Like she did everything else in her life, a step above. She reveled in optimism and poise. She showed her boys how to handle adversity and keep their chins up. She loved always, and brought so much light to the world. To my first mentor and big sister, we love you and the world will be a little less full without you.

Love you Cat!

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Lauren

January 17, 2025

So very sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.

Ann (Kacko) Stimm

January 2, 2025

Josh, Brent and Shane, thinking of you during this difficult time. May your memories be a blessing.

Bob Brown

December 31, 2024

Fly High with the Angels !!

Richard Lambert

December 31, 2024

I was proud of her when she was published and produced as a playwright in Buffalo. I was even prouder after she moved to California, and as an author, landed on the New York Times bestseller list.

I thought she was a wonderful woman and a terrific mom.

So many people will miss her.

A life taken too,, too soon.

Shane Brewster

December 31, 2024

Her picking me up every single day after Kindergarten and us running errands together and just talking in the car.

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