Catherine Jair

Catherine Jair

Catherine Jair was born and raised in San Francisco's Chinatown, the seventh of nine siblings. A life-long SF resident, she enjoyed many of the city's activities and clubs. She attended St. Mary's Elementary for eight years as well as Chung Wah's after-school Chinese program for six. Catherine then went to Girls' High for a year before transferring to Galileo High, graduating with her high school diploma. Catherine was a hard worker whose love of scholarship led her to enroll at San Francisco City College, where she earned her AA degree. During that time, she also worked at the family grocery store, Sun Wah Lee. After graduating from City College, she took night classes at SF State University.
In her free time, she enjoyed playing mah jongg, trips to Reno, and driving the family's Chevrolet pick-up truck. Catherine was an avid bowler, who along with her sister and friends, formed the first Chinese all-female bowling league. Catherine started work as a stenographer and secretary in various departments with the Federal Government in her late 20's: the Veterans' Administration, HEW, the Presidio, and the DEA. At 30, she moved into an apartment on lower Nob Hill, still close to family and friends. In 1959, Catherine went on a round-the-world trip, visiting the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, and the Sphinx. Her next apartment was located on 3rd Avenue in the inner Richmond, where she lived comfortably for the next 27 years. Catherine liked going to the movies, bicycling, indoor roller and ice skating, and playing checkers with her friends and siblings. She also enjoyed watching old movies and dancing ballroom, folk, country, and especially square dancing, which she did often and where she made many friends. She was a member of Chang's International Folk Dancing since 1975 as well as Northern California International Folk Dance.
She early retired at 54 and kept active in these many activities. In her mid-80's, Catherine moved into a board and care home in the Sunset District due to health issues. The caretakers, Mindy and Sally, were very attentive to her needs, and she passed her days with family, visitors, and other residents. Catherine Jair passed away peacefully at 89 on Thursday March 31, 2016 in the company of her sister Hazel, brother Jack and his wife Rosemarie, and her two nieces, PamI and Sharon.
Friends may visit Wed April 6 from 6 to 7 PM at the Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy and O'Hara Co, Geary Blvd at 10th Ave. The Committal Service and Burial will be Thursday noon at Holy Cross Catholic; Cemetery, 1500 Mission Road, Colma.