Catherine Jo "Cathy" O'Laughlin

Catherine (Cathy) Jo O'Laughlin, born October 27, 1948, in Winona, Minnesota passed from this life, to the next, on early Wednesday morning, June 4, 2025.

The eldest of nine children, Cathy ("Puba" to the younger kids), helped her siblings navigate the hurdles of grade school and Junior High - leaving the tough high school years to their own accords. Each of her siblings have specific memories of her "authority" as they, one-by-one, tested her "rules".

Living in Winona's east end, for much of her life, Cathy graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1966, and went on to "Secretarial School" where she perfected her shorthand and typing skills.

She worked as an Administrative Assistant at local colleges and small businesses - through which she met some lifelong friends. Cathy left the academic and business worlds to care for younger special needs siblings, as well as the kids of many young families. Watching those children grow up and thrive was one of her life's greatest joys.

Leaving Winona behind, she moved across the river to Wisconsin, calling the communities of Altoona and Fall Creek home. She eventually settled in at the Fall Creek Commons where became friends with some kind neighbors - who supported her in many heartfelt ways. We especially want to acknowledge Debbie, Lisa and Val plus, her lifelong friend Mary Otto.

Cathy also leaves behind her siblings Pam O'Laughlin, Bill (Carol) O'Laughlin, Mary Beth (Tim) Garrison, John (Melissa) O'Laughlin and Maureen (Roger) King plus many nieces and nephews and Great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Dee O'Laughlin, sister Deborah Jean, brothers Raymond Jerome Jr. "Butchie", and Thomas Francis "Tommy" and brother-in-law Darrell Holzer.

A small Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 13 at the Fall Creek Commons at 4:00 pm, 328 West Washington Avenue, Fall Creek Wisconsin.

Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com