Catherine M. Servos

"Pelham--Catherine M. (McDonnell) Servos, 101, died peacefully at home on Saturday, November 29 after a brief illness. Born in New York City on August 28, 1913, Catherine was the daughter of Thomas McDonnell and Catherine (Kitty) Logan McDonnell, both immigrants from Ireland. Catherine grew up among ten brothers and sisters in Hell's Kitchen, a notoriously tough neighborhood on Manhattan's west side that left remarkably few scars on a woman known to friends and family for her gentle ways. After graduating from high school Catherine worked as a bookkeeper for the clothier, Collins & Aikman, and later for the tobacco firm, Benson & Hedges. Shortly before the U.S. entered World War II, she met a young German immigrant, William (Bill) Servos. They married on August 2, 1942, just before Bill entered the Army. Catherine followed her husband from base to base during the war, first to Aniston, Alabama, then to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and finally to Camp Hale, Colorado, where Bill taught skiing and alpine arts to recruits of the newly formed 10th Mountain Division and Catherine worked in the Camp's Post Exchange. Catherine never took to the rugged outdoor life with the same joy as did Bill, but both carried away memories of Colorado that remained vivid for decades to come. After the war, Catherine and Bill returned to New York City where Bill resumed his pre-war job at Manhattan's "21" Club. Catherine joined Bill and their friends on occasional ski holidays in the winter and did her best to crew for Bill on a Star boat that they raced in the waters of Long Island Sound during the summer months. They made a home in Queens, living first in Astoria and then settling in Rego Park. Catherine and Bill moved to Cape Cod following Bill's retirement in 1973. The location was Catherine's discovery. She had vacationed in Hyannis with her sister, Mary Margaret, during the 1930s and been enchanted with the warm Nantucket Sound waters and cool summer breezes. During the 1950s, Catherine persuaded Bill to visit the Cape, and he was soon as enthusiastic about it as she was. In 1958, they bought a cottage in Bass River, and over the next decade gradually had other cottages built that they rented out during the summer months. Following Bill's death in 1992, Catherine continued to run the business for several years, gradually reducing commitments as infirmities began to take a toll on her energies. In 2005, Catherine moved to Pelham, Massachusetts, where she became a much treasured member of the household of her son, John, and his wife, Virginia. Catherine retained her interest in current events and mysteries until the end, shared her rich memories with her grandchildren, Katie, Will, and Mariah, and enjoyed frequent visits from her daughter, Barbara (Servos) Antonenko of Ritterhude, Germany, her niece, Maureen Cavanaugh of Salem, Massachusetts, and other friends and family. Catherine's kindness, warmth, and cheerfulness were a model for all. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 29 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Pius X church in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts followed by burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Those wishing to honor Catherine's memory are invited to make contributions to the VNA Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital (168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060) or to the Franciscan Friars of Atonement (1350 Route 9, P.O. Box 300, Garrison, NY 10524). For details, please visit www.Beersandstory.com. "