Catherine Helen Ranucci

Catherine H. Ranucci (Baker), of Maynard, MA, passed away unexpectedly on November 18, 2024. Born in Boston on June 10, 1941, to Charles and Margherita Baker (Forte), she was 83 years young. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Joseph Ranucci, her sister Constance Peterman, and her brother John Baker. She leaves behind her children Joseph Ranucci Jr. and his wife Diane, of Leominster MA, Mark Ranucci and his fiancée Denise Jones of Maynard MA, Vincent Ranucci of Coeur D'Alene ID, Stephanie Johnson and her husband Brian of Marlboro MA, and Jason Ranucci and his wife Rebecca of Farmington CT. She cherished her role as grandmother to her 10 grandchildren, Craig Ranucci, Alicia Ranucci, Adam Ranucci, Cole Ranucci, Julia Ragland, Aimee-Paige Johnson, Derek Johnson, Andrew Ranucci, Caroline Ranucci, Avery Ranucci, and her great-granddaughter Valentina Prieto Ranucci. She also leaves behind her brother, Charles Baker and his wife Kim of Moorpark, CA and her friend and companion Ed Quebec of Fitzwilliam, NH. Cathy graduated from St. Charles High School in Waltham in 1959 and lived her dream as a professional dancer in Chicago before returning home and marrying her high school sweetheart. Dance was a lifelong passion for Cathy, including entering (and often winning) jitterbug competitions with Joe, owning and running Miss Cathy's Studio, attending performances with friends, and maintaining a decades-long run of being "the oldest girl in the class." Cathy never stopped dancing – she was still attending weekly ballet classes at the time of her passing and she celebrated any good news with a little dance. After a long career as a secretary, Cathy pursued another lifelong dream, working as a substitute teacher in the Athol and Maynard schools where she always had "so much fun talking with the kids." Cathy brought energy and joy to all that she did and she never stopped moving - traveling to see family and friends, attending her grandchildren's events, going to Mass, and occasionally going "down the casino." She was an avid traveler, taking numerous trips to Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Aruba with Joe and later discovering a love for cruises with Ed. She was competitive and loved to play games, whether playing Jeopardy with her friends or beating her grandkids at board games. Family and friends were everything to Cathy – she was thoughtful, giving, dependable, and the world's most consistent sender of birthday cards. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. A funeral mass for Cathy will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Bridget's Church, 29 Sudbury Street, Maynard MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UMass Chan Medical School at https://www.umassmed.edu/giving/