Catherine A. Scannell

1953 - 2025

Catherine A. Scannell

9/29/1953 - 7/23/2025

Catherine Ann Scannell, 71, of Maumee, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025, in Northwest Montana, a place she described as, "The closest one can get to heaven on earth."

A life-long resident of the Toledo area, Cathy was deeply loved by her many family members and friends who mourn her loss. Born September 29, 1953, to her mother, Norma Jean (Fleitz) Nowakowski, she was designated "Lady Catherine" by her father, Henry Zenon Nowakowski. She was the fourth of their nine children. Cathy, with a "C," as she would adamantly attest to, frequently recounted childhood memories from their beloved home on Silvertown Drive, in Sylvania. Along with her eight siblings, she attended St. Joseph Parish School, St. Ursula Academy, and graduated from The Ohio State University.

Cathy's professional career showed her true character of compassion and kindness as she worked as a home health physical therapist for thirty plus years. She served many philanthropic efforts focused on environmental advocacy; her proudest position as president of Clear Water, a streams and rivers restoration non-profit. Cathy also donated her time and energy to Junior League Toledo, her local Delta Gamma Alumnae group, and the Toledo Museum of Art Ambassadors. Her other interests included traveling, reading, tennis, and never missing an Ohio State Buckeyes football game - Cathy's last game attended, with her brother, Mark, was the National Championship victory this past year. Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in her early 60s, Cathy was determined to continue living her life to the fullest.

As a devoted and loving mother, her true passion in life was her children and later her grandchildren. A Super-Mom and Grandma, she was always willing to go above and beyond to add an extra special touch, leaving memories like hand-sewn Halloween costumes, extravagant themed birthday parties, early-morning wake ups for hockey practices, cartwheels on the volleyball court, cookies baked long after her kids were asleep, and so much more. A point of immense pride was building a home for her and her three children in 1999 - dubbed White Oak Lodge, it remains a beautiful house surrounded by gardens on all sides.

Catherine is survived by her loving family: children, Christopher, Caitlin (Wilson) Usman and Gregory (Caitlin) Scannell; granddaughters, Leah Bernell, Carolina Usman, and Lyra Scannell; and grandson, Oryn Scannell; siblings, Marilyn (Bruce) Fredrickson, Jim (Marsha) Nowakowski, John (Cyndy) Nowakowski, Mark Nowakowski, and Janet (John) Bali. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Norma Jean Nowakowski; and siblings, Carolyn, Chip, and Jeff Nowakowski.

The family invites all those who loved and appreciated Cathy to join us in celebrating her life on Friday, September 5, 2025, with a funeral mass at St. Joseph Parish, in Sylvania, at 10 a.m., followed by a reception at Ward Pavilion in Wildwood Metropark, from 12-4 p.m. Please wear your favorite color in her honor.

For those wishing to commemorate Cathy's life, the family has chosen several options for donating in her name: Toledo Museum of Art, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, St. Ursula Academy Class of 1971 memorial scholarship, the Metroparks Toledo Foundation and the Big Fork, Montana Fire Department.