Catherine Mary "Cathy" Vandenberg

January 18, 1952 - July 18, 2025

State College, Pennsylvania - Catherine Mary Vandenberg, 73, of Pennsylvania Furnace, passed away July 18, 2025. She was born January 18, 1952 in Benton Harbor, MI to the late Robert L. and Madelaine L. (Westendorf) Vandenberg. In 1977 she married Mark W. Hayes who survives at home.

Cathy was a 1970 Lake Michigan Catholic High School graduate. She received her associate's degree from Lake Michigan Community College and her bachelor's degree in zoology from Michigan State University in 1974. Following a year of graduate work in physiology she earned certification as a Medical Technologist. She worked as a Med Tech in several hospitals before moving on to several biology research labs at Penn State University, where she was a senior research technologist and lab manager.

Cathy was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County where she sang in the choir and played piano and jazz keyboard. She loved all animals, especially horses, dogs, and birds, was involved in Democratic party politics, loved the Beatles and was a long-time volunteer and board member of Park Forest Preschool, as well as a long-time volunteer with State College Meals on Wheels.

Cathy had a golden heart that brought light into the lives of all she met. She was generous, patient, and kind, giving her love and energy to many people and causes. She was humble and unassuming, while also assertive in standing up for the rights and dignity of all people. She had a lifelong commitment to working toward justice and equality, and above all to spreading love. Many will sorely miss her smile, laughter, and the joy she brought to all her endeavors. She was tiny in stature but giant in spirit.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Harvey Rowland. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Mark W. Hayes; two sons, Andrew Hayes of Bozeman, MT and Benjamin Hayes (Manisha Vatsa) of Salem, NH; three sisters, Nancy Rowland of Santa Fe, NM, Lela Vandenberg (Louis Rutare) of Lansing, MI and Charlotte DeCamp (Jim) of Longmont, CO; one brother, John Vandenberg (Alice Churchill) of Ithaca, NY; two brothers-in-law, Geoffrey Hayes and Philip Hayes; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Wozniak and Anne Hayes and ten nieces and nephews, Erin Wissink, James Wozniak, Regan Wozniak, Elizabeth Livengood, Jessica Beebe, Allyson Rigler, Rachel Wade, Micho Rutare, Noah Rutare and Madelaine Vandenberg.

A Celebration of Life Service will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers contributions in Cathy's honor may be made to Park Forest Preschool or the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Haky/Georgiana Centre County Funeral Home. An online guestbook may be signed and condolences left for the family at www.hakygeorgianafh.com.

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Published by Centre Daily Times from Jul. 24 to Jul. 27, 2025.