Catharine V. Christensen

Catharine Veronica (Cronin) Christensen, 91, of Farmington and formerly a longtime resident of West Hartford, died peacefully with her family at her side on Monday (February 11, 2013) at St Mary Home, West Hartford. She was born in Philadelphia, PA to the late John Walter Cronin and Catherine Veronica (McCloskey) Cronin on June 6, 1921. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years, Clifford (Chris) Quentin Christensen and her dearly beloved son, Michael Christensen. Catharine attended John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School in Philadelphia. She graduated February, 1943 from the training school for nurses at "Old Blockley" Philadelphia General Hospital. During World War II, she met Chris, a Second Lieutenant in the Army, stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. They were married at Fort Sill Post Chapel on November 4, 1943. When her husband was deployed to the South Pacific with the 694th Field Artillery, Catharine went back to Philadelphia to work at the Pennsylvania Institute Psychiatric Hospital. After the war ended, Catharine and Chris were reunited and came to Hartford for a brief time. Catharine took a nursing job at St. Francis Hospital while Chris attended school for his new job with the Aetna. The Aetna relocated them to Dallas, TX where Catharine worked at The Methodist Hospital. When they were transferred in 1950 to Des Moines, Iowa, Catharine volunteered at the Christ Child Home orphanage and was a member of the Des Moines Women's Club. Upon leaving Des Moines, they spent the next 5 years in Buffalo, NY before finally settling in West Hartford in 1956 where they lived for more than 50 years. Catharine remained active by continuing her nursing career and caring for her three sons. Her community involvement included Treasurer of The Hartford Symphony, Auxiliary President of the West Hartford Republican Women's Club, Secretary of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee, and Chairman of the World Affairs Committee of The West Hartford League of Women Voters. She was a member of the Beatrice Fox Auerbach World Affairs Roundtable and was a member of the West Hartford Community Health Planning Board. Some of her favorite pastimes included tennis, downhill skiing, bridge and scrabble. Catharine leaves her two children, Mark E. Christensen and his wife Kathleen of Bolton, and Robert Christensen and his wife Sara Ecker of Thetford Center, VT; four grandchildren, Mark Christensen, Shane Christensen and his wife Meaghan, Ashley Andrews and her husband Blake, Ty Christensen, and Kait Christensen and two great-grandchildren, Keeleigh and Cody Christensen. She also leaves her sister, Mary Louise Schlachta of Phoenixville, PA, her brothers, Jim Cronin and his wife Gerri of Doylestown, PA, Joe Cronin and his wife Betty of North Wales, PA, Bill Cronin of Orchard Beach, ME, Tom Cronin and his wife Bobbie of Bluffton, SC and Paul Cronin of Mission Viejo, CA and many nieces and nephews and their families. Besides her husband and son, Catharine was predeceased by her brother, Jack Cronin and his wife Catherine, her sisters, Peggy Ruddy, Nancy Wald and Joan Cronin, her aunts, Margaret Cronin, Marie Cronin and Sister Mary Protase, IHM, her brother-in-law Frank Schlachta, her nephew, Eric Schlachta and her niece, Joanne Schlachta. Friends and family may call Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT. Graveside services will be Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Rd. Bloomfield, CT. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 45 Ash St. East Hartford, CT 06108.

Catharine V. Christensen

June 6, 1921 - February 11, 2013