Catherine McVerry

Mrs. Catherine E. McVerry St. Francis School teacher NAUGATUCK — Catherine E. (McCabe) McVerry, beloved wife of the late Aidan P. McVerry, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury. Born in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late James McCabe and Elizabeth (Coyne) McCabe. She was educated in the Hartford schools and was a 1938 graduate of St. Joseph College in West Hartford. During World War II, Catherine worked at the West Hartford Armory until she married Aidan in June of 1943. Once married, she moved to Wolcott and finally to Naugatuck where she made her home for over 60 years. Catherine was a stay-at-home mom when her children were young, but when St. Francis School needed a teacher, she willingly went back to work and spent the next 19 years teaching children in fourth grade at St. Francis. Her goal was to make a difference in the lives of her students. With her husband, she was the second president of the St. Francis Parents Club, which later became the Home School Association, and played an active role in many school and church activities. She was a member of the Council of Catholic Women and deeply religious all of her life. She served as a member of the St. Francis School Foundation and acknowledged donations for over 20 years. She instilled in her children her love of the church and the importance of stewardship. In her later years, she enjoyed being with her family more than ever and loved nothing more than having everyone all together. She was happiest surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. She loved her Cape Cod vacations and had just returned from her annual time spent by the sea. She is survived by her loving children, Mary of Naugatuck, Anne (Ralph) Shove of Wolcott, Michael (Melodie) of Middlebury and James (Patricia Brickett) of Vienna, Va.; her grandchildren, Maureen (David) Shove-Brown, Stephen Shove, Caitlin McVerry, Sean McVerry, Michael McVerry, Sarah McVerry and Patrick McVerry; and great-granddaughter, Brighid Shove-Brown. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Gertrude McCabe of Hartford and Dorothy (McVerry) Conley of Tennessee. She was predeceased by her daughter, Elizabeth Anne McVerry; her brother, James McCabe; and her in-laws, the Rev. Michael McVerry, Francis and Mildred McVerry, MaryBeth (McVerry) and James Carroll, Patrick and Doris McVerry and Jack Conley. Arrangements: The funeral will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. from the Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave., Naugatuck, to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church St., Naugatuck, for a Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Waterbury at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Francis-St. Hedwig School, 294 Church St., Naugatuck 06770; or the St. Francis School Foundation, P.O. Box 292, Naugatuck 06770. For more information and online condolences, please log on to www.buckmillerbrothers.com.