Catherine Firer

Catherine (Kate) Firer of Cambridge Springs, passed away peacefully at the Crawford County Care Center, where she had been a resident for 2 1/2 months.  Kate was 98.  She was born on July 31, 1921 in Monesson, PA, the 5 ^th of 10 children born to Michael and Mary (Hryko) Cap.

Kate’s family moved to Irish Road, Edinboro where they farmed and where she attended school until her mother’s death when Kate was 16.

During the WWII years, Kate worked at Talon and was proud of her “Chain Machine” abilities and making triggers for guns for the war cause.

On January 19, 1946, she married her friend and lifetime partner, George Firer.  George served in the Pacific Theater during the war, and she proudly and lovingly spoke of writing to him every day of his 3 1/2 year deployment.  They were married 61 years with his passing in 2007.

Kate had many talents. Not only was she a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandma, and great-grandma, but also excelled at cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, and quilting.  Her quilting skills and quilts were well-known and shared with many.  Kate was always generous.  She raised, picked, and sold blueberries and enjoyed being called “the blueberry lady.”  Her later years, though she still picked blueberries, were spent making applesauce-in great quantities.

Kate was also employed by PennCrest School District as cafeteria manager at Euclid Elementary School in Saegertown.  She loved cooking for the kids, planned her own menus, and was a forerunner in healthy eating for children.

Kate taught Sunday School at Grace Church in Meadville, and attended church services at Teepleville and Little Cooley Methodist churches.  She was an active member of the Woodcock Ladies for many years and quilted with the ladies of Saegertown United Methodist Church.  Kate was a friendly, social person and made friends wherever she went.  In later years, her favorite place was the Senior Center in Cambridge Springs.  She was their biggest advocate and loved the people and meals there, especially playing Skip-Bo with her friends.

Kate’s survivors are daughter, Susan (John) Stanford-Lawrence, Cambridge Springs; son, Kenny (Pat) Firer, Charlottesville, VA; sisters, Irene (Jack) Hemphill, Sacramento, CA, Helen (Paul) Sima, Cleveland, OH, sister-in-law, Carolyn Cap, Placentia, CA.

Grandchildren-Jesse(Denise) Stanford, Michael (Kristin) Stanford, Cambridge Springs. Arlyss and Harlan Firer, Charlottesville, VA.  Adam (Connie) Hall, Meadville, Nicki (Vic) Clay, Richmond, VA. Bruce (Carolyn) Lawrence, Bill (Tara) Lawrence, Blair (Amy) Lawrence, Meadville.

Great grandchildren-Samantha, Reese, Aida, Seth, Lily, Carter, Jackson, Shannon, Jenni (Doug), Jackson, Luke, Brett, Brady.

Great-great grandson-Reed.

Many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Kate was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; brothers, Steve, Frank, Mike, John and Paul and two sisters, Anne and Ella.

Services will be private.  A memorial celebration for Kate will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cambridge Senior Center, 156 Venango Ave., Cambridge Springs, PA 16403.

Please sign Kate’s online guestbook at www.hatheway-tedesco.com .

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hatheway-Tedesco Funeral Home and Crematory, 614 Baldwin St., Meadville, PA 16335.