Catherine M. Ducomb

"PALMER - Catherine M. DuComb, 90, of Palmer passed away on January 18, 2015, at Wingate Healthcare of Wilbraham surrounded by her loving family. Born January 16, 1925 in Palmer, she was the daughter of Peter and Eva (Cummings) Ditto. A resident of Palmer her entire life, she graduated from Palmer High School and was a communicant at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Catherine was predeceased in 2011 by her devoted husband of 65 years, George, whom she married in 1946 after his WW II Navy service in the Pacific. True to her generation, she was first and foremost a homemaker whose days centered on her family and a deep Catholic faith. Throughout her life she was a helpful caregiver to her twin brothers, and her kitchen table was constantly surrounded by her numerous friends and relatives. Many of her happiest hours were spent in her lovely perennial flower beds, or directing her sons and son-in-law in the planting and transplanting of her shrubs that filled her front and side yards. Catherine occasionally worked part-time for various Palmer employers, but was most fulfilled by her service at the Monson Developmental Center. For many years she was in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Lions Club of Palmer, an organization that she joined as a member in her later years. She was in the Daughters of Isabella of St. Thomas, actively supported Sunshine Village of Chicopee, and remained proud of her participation in the St. Thomas Minstrels. She will be deeply missed by her four children: Patricia Curley and her husband Charles of Belchertown; Anthony and his wife Robin of San Francisco; Mark and his wife Roberta of Monson; and David and his wife Phyllis of Palmer; and 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She leaves his sister Irene Bishop and brother Thomas Ditto of Palmer, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, her brothers Peter and John preceded her in death. Visitation will be Thursday, January 22, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the Beers and Story Palmer Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Burial at St. Thomas Cemetery will be in the spring. For those wishing, donations may be made in her memory to Special Olympics (1133 19th St., NW, Wash, DC 20036) or the St. Thomas Cemetery (1076 Thorndike St., Palmer, MA 01069)."