Katy Toale
This is what I wrote for my mom and read at her visitation. -Katy-
I know everyone in here knows what an amazing person my mother is. She was always thinking of others and wanted to do anything she could to lessen the burden. In a few minutes we will be watching a slideshow that was put together by Cathy herself. She choose each photo and the music to play in the background. She even googled how long should a slideshow be and found it probably should be no longer than about 10 minutes; and she said opps mine is about 30 minutes so she had to cut it down some. So many pictures, so many memories and wonderful times. She even told me it is kinda weird that I am putting together my own funeral slide show but I actually enjoyed looking at all of these pictures and reliving all of these memories. My mom also downloaded all the songs you have been hearing in the background today, she wrote her own obituary and choose her own readings and songs for the church service tomorrow. She did all of this for us, because she knows how difficult it is to put all of this together after a loved one passes and she wanted to do as much as she could to help us through the process.
The next thing I am going to read is something I wrote for my mom when we were in the hospital and found out the cancer had continued to spread. I really wanted her to hear it because I didn’t write it for myself and I didn’t write it for you, I wrote it for her.
Anyways she really liked it and I hope you do too.
Catherine Ann Anastasio Hanzelka, AKA mom, AKA, Cathy, AKA Caffy (according to my 4 year old)
Cathy was an extraordinary woman in many ways who left us far too soon. For some time, I had a hard time understanding why God would take her away from us, but I understand that death is a part of life and she lived a very long happy fulfilling life. Obviously, we never want to lose someone we love and someone who is so close to us, your mom is your hero and the hero is not supposed to die. But I take great comfort in knowing she is no longer in pain, and she is with the Lord and has been reunited with her loved ones who have passed.
No matter how old we are, we still need our mother and I remember her pain when her own mother Flo passed away and how terribly she missed her. When my mom passed I envisioned in my head her walking to those big white pearly gates and her mother Flo being the first one standing right there with her arms open wide waiting to welcome her daughter home and this brought me peace.
She was first diagnosed with lymphoma in 2017 and endured many harsh treatments which took a toll all while maintaining a positive attitude, a strong relationship with God and continuing to help others as much as she could. Growing up she did so much for us. I remember having to learn how to do laundry when I was leaving for college because I never really had to do it before. She made a home cooked dinner for us most nights with an occasional Little Caesars pizza night thrown in there. When I was 21 I asked if I could come live back at home for a year while I finished up classes for pharmacy school. Both her and my dad didn’t hesitate in welcoming me back home.
When I was older, she would have us over to the house for my birthday dinner where she would make my favorite thing: fried and grilled shrimp, home made fries (that are way better than those frozen ones you buy at the store), a tangy noodle salad and her awesome carrot cake. No one makes your favorite dinner better than your mom.
She was a teacher, a friend, a wife, and a sister but the job she took most seriously was a mother. Some unique things that I think about when I remember my mom:
-She was a kind caring person, with empathy for all those in need
-If you needed help she never said no
-She always put others before herself
-She loved talking, she could carry a conversation with anyone
-She never missed church and if unable to be there physically she would watch online.
-She volunteered every Thursday at the church donat