Catherine Elizabeth VanSurdam

CATHERINE ELIZABETH HUMPHRIES VANSURDAM Succumbing to a brief illness, Mrs. Catherine Elizabeth Humphries VanSurdam, 89, of Seneca, SC, formerly of Wilmington, NC, died Friday night July 3 at the Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca. "Kay" was beloved by her husband, children, a cadre of grandchildren and a bounty of close friends. Mrs. VanSurdam was born on January 10, 1926 in Irvington, NJ, the daughter of the late Thomas and Barbara Mullaley Humphries. Along with her husband John A. VanSurdam, she moved to the Wilmington area in 1977 where they lived until their move to Seneca last month. Mrs. VanSurdam retired from the Internal Revenue Service. She was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Wilmington and was very active with the Parent Teacher Association at St. Mary's Catholic School while her children were in school. She shepherded her two children through High School and then through college at Clemson University and North Carolina State University. In subsequent years, she devoted herself to her grandchildren to whom she is remembered as a joyful presence and a beacon of virtuous development. Surviving is her husband of sixty-one years, John A. VanSurdam of Seneca, SC; a son, John Randall VavSurdam of Seneca, SC; a daughter, Cynthia Allison Whelan of Roswell, GA; six grandchildren, Brendan of Maryville, TN, Theresa, Lucas, Elizabeth, Conner and John Paul; a sister, Cecilia Jones and husband Frank; and several nieces and nephews. In memorial and celebration of her life, the family will receive visitors at Brown-Oglesby Funeral Home in Seneca, SC on Monday July 6 at 3PM and a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Seneca, SC on Tuesday July 7 at a time to be announced. Condolences may be addressed to the family at P.O. Box 1754, Seneca, SC 29679. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in her name to the Oconee County Humane Society in Seneca, SC. Donation can be made on line at www.oconeehumane.com