Cathy’s cremation remains will journey from Sayre Pennsylvania to Subiaco Arkansas for her final burial at Subiaco Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery in Arkansas. Memorial services consist of a Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Mass. Memorial Services will occur with family and friends in seven communities as follows:
- Sayre PA, June 24th, Rosary beginning at 6 PM at Lowery Funeral Home; June 25th, Memorial Service beginning at 2 PM at Epiphany Church
- Nashville TN, July 1st, Community Mass beginning at 6:45 AM at Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Mother House
- Memphis TN, July 11th, Memorial Service beginning at 10 AM at Church of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church
- Hitchcock TX, July 18th, Memorial Service beginning at 10 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
- Dallas TX, July 22nd, Memorial Service beginning at 2 PM at Cistercian Abbey
- Subiaco AK, August 1st, Memorial Service and Burial beginning at 10 AM at Subiaco Abbey
- Serabu Sierra Leone, October 9th, Memorial Service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, at a time to be determined.
I refer to these Memorial services as First Hug Celebrations because of the prayerful preparations Cathy and I made in anticipation of her death and this recent letter that I wrote to our employees in Serabu.
I want share with you an image that has relieved me of all pain related to Cathy’s death. Cathy died at 7:48pm on June 4, 2025. Traditionally we refer to this as the time of death, and feel great pain for our loss. Indeed, I felt incredible pain and cried deeply because of that pain.
However, our faith teaches us that there is a more powerful perspective. That same time and date is also when Cathy entered Heaven and received her first hug from Jesus. When I weight the pain of my loss against the joy of her first hug with Jesus, how can I be sad? How can I be in pain? My love of Cathy puts her joy far ahead of my pain. I am so happy for her and look forward to my reunion with her even more. I am missing her so much and it will take some time for healing. But I am already at a significant point of joy as I celebrate her first Jesus-hug and I invite you to do the same.
Serabu will be the seventh city for a memorial service for Cathy. It will be held in October after the rainy season calms down. She has already been cremated so her ashes will be present at the other six cities. She has donated her hair for the memorial service in Serabu since I cannot transport her ashes overseas.
I love you and I hope you to let the joy of Cathy’s First Hug from Jesus invade your sorrow and conquer your pain. We were all blessed by her life. There is no reason for that to stop. With love and affection, for all my children in Africa. Tom
In the last few weeks, siblings, children, grandchildren and friends made treks to our home to be with Cathy. It’s been wonderful and I encourage all of you to consider this First Hug perspective. Here is a picture from Cathy’s final hours. It was a blessing she stayed home.
Next Update: June 15 to confirm all memorial service information and address information\
Tom thank you for sharing the journey with all of us and please know how deeply saddened we are by Cathy’s passing. The candlelight service was such a beautiful tribute to her. We know that she is now rejoicing with the Lord! Rest in peace my dear sweet friend😇
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Tom we know she is missed on this earth by you and so many others. We pray for your continued peace. As she gets her first heavenly hug we are sure she will hear..well done my good and faithful servant.
Sondra and David in MS.
I made several retreats with Cathy at Bethany for the Catholic Women’s physicians retreats, including her last one in March 2023. She was such an inspiration! I have been praying for you all ever since then, and will be praying for all of you as you mourn her loss.
Tom, thank you for the beautiful memories, and the photo! Cathy is now in our Heavenly Father’s eternal embrace!