Catherine "Cathy" Fenix

COAL TOWNSHIP - Catherine "Cathy" Fenix, 94, of Coal Township, passed away Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at home with her loving children by her side.

Catherine was born July 24, 1929, a daughter of the late Angelo and Concetta (Miriello) Benvenuto. Her parents were Italian immigrants from Sicily, Italy. She often referred to their place of origin as "the boot."

Cathy graduated from Coal Township High School, in 1946.

She married her husband, Gilbert Fenix, on Thanksgiving Day 1961.

She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, in Coal Township.

Before her marriage to Gilbert, she was a supervisor for Arrow Shirt Factory for many years. She then worked for the Shamokin Area Community Hospital where she retired from in 1992.

Catherine's nickname could have been "Homebody." She enjoyed spending her time in the comfort of her home. She excelled in cooking, baking and canning. Her family's favorites were pizza, pierogies and rice pudding, among other culinary delights. Everyone will always remember her "famous" pizza and how she cut it with scissors!

She volunteered her time making pierogies with other senior citizens as a fundraiser at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church. She would also volunteer for Meals on Wheels and was active at the Senior Action Center.

Cathy's passions were working on crypto-quote puzzles with her friend, Gere, and playing pinochle, both of which she did at the end of her life. She also bowled in numerous bowling leagues throughout her life. She loved to crochet, play bingo and complete jigsaw puzzles.

To know and love Cathy was to know her quiet personality, loving ways and her humility. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She had an infectious laugh coupled with a great sense of humor. She was generous with her time, talent and treasures and will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her, especially her children.

Catherine is survived by her children, John Fenix and his fiancee, Jeanne, Lori Fenix, Gary Fenix and his wife, Renee, Greg Fenix and his wife, Stacy, and Carol Waugh and her husband, Jerry; six grandchildren, Cameron, Connor, Madyson, Allyson, Dylan and Kayla; a great-grandchild, Callan; and many other family members and friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Russ and Jim Benvenuto; and an infant sister, MariAngela Benvenuto.

FENIX - Catherine "Cathy" Fenix, 94, of Coal Township. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Hope Church, First and Chestnut streets, Coal Township. A visitation for family and friends will begin in the church at 10 a.m. until the time of service Monday. As an expression of sympathy, Catherine's family requests memorial contributions be made to the Shamokin-Coal Township Senior Action Center, 2 E. Arch St. (Room 107) Shamokin 17872. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Shamokin. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to the James Kelley Funeral Home, 1001 W. Arch St. at Maple Street, Coal Township. To share a memory or offer the family condolences, sign the guest book at http://www.jameskelleyfh.com.