Catherine A. Donovan

Catherine A. Donovan, 95, of Holmdel, passed away on Tuesday surrounded by her family.

The daughter of German immigrants, Catherine was born and raised in Ridgewood, Queens, where she graduated from Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Grammar School and Bishops High School. After high school, she went on to graduate from City College with a degree in education. Catherine married the love of her life, Thomas Donovan, and together they raised their young family in Middle Village, Queens. After her children were grown, she returned to work as a secretary at P.S. 153 in Maspeth, Queens for the New York City Board of Education. She skillfully balanced her work with unwavering dedication to her family, faith and friends.

In the summer, Catherine loved spending long days at the beach, surrounded by friends and family at her cabana in D Court at the Ocean Club on Long Island. She spent her winters at Countryside Golf and Country Club in Naples, Florida, where she was a longtime resident. Catherine loved to shop for both herself and her loved ones, particularly at Macy's. She valued her lifelong friends, Nadine and Peggy.

Catherine was also a thoughtful investor, a devoted caregiver to friends and loved ones, and a beloved neighborhood staple who contributed to her community's warmth and spirit. She loved sports, particularly St. John's Basketball and the Mets. Reading the sports pages of the Post was her morning pleasure. She also enjoyed traveling, especially visiting with her Reitz cousins in Obertshausen, with whom she remained very close.

Catherine is predeceased by her loving husband, Thomas; her brother, Anthony Bruder; as well as her devoted son Thomas Jr., who loved his mother so much that he named his business Catherine's Apothecary in her honor.

Catherine is survived by her children, Cathyann Tully and her husband James, and Colleen Padula and her husband James; her grandchildren, James, Daniel and his wife Sarah (Tully), Jamie, Scott and his wife Lindsay (Padula); and her great-grandson, Oliver Padula.

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 11th, at 10:30 AM at St. Catharine's RC Church, 108 Middletown Rd, Holmdel. The Mass will be followed by a burial at All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, where her loving husband and devoted son and her parents are also buried.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Tommy Donovan Scholarship at Holy Cross High School, 26-20 Francis Lewis Blvd, Flushing, NY 11358, Attn: Development Office.