It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Cathy Ethel Cuthbertson (nee Armstrong), on February 10, 2023. Beloved mother of Jill Persaud (Dean) and Susan Guilbeault (pre-deceased). Special sister of Myrna Ledgley. Lucky grandma to Angela and Alex Guilbeault, and Derek and Jordan Persaud. Great grandmother to Hudson and Jackson Maguire. “Family in Canada” to Marisa, Proclidas and Susana Junco.

After a devastating but mercifully brief illness, we take comfort in knowing our matriarch is now at peace, that she was so well loved by her family and friends, and that her loving and charitable spirit made a difference in the lives of so many over the course of a life so well lived.

Although her girls were her first love, Cathy carved out a remarkable career for herself over the years, attending university as a mature student and single mother to earn her BSW at Laurentian University. She turned her own hearing loss into an impetus to make a difference in the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and worked at the Canadian Hearing Society in Sudbury for several years before embarking on the next challenge to earn her Masters at Gallaudet University in Washington DC. Upon graduating from Gally in 1990 Cathy moved to Toronto where she worked as a counsellor at CHS for a few years. But she hadn’t yet finished her search for the best way to make a difference! After a hiatus to earn her B.Ed at York University, Cathy embarked on her final career path as a teacher and settled in the Bronte neighbourhood of Oakville. Cathy first taught at EC Drury school for the deaf in Milton, and then as an itinerant teacher for hearing impaired students with Halton board, until she retired at the age of 71.

Even well into retirement and up until Covid changed everything, Cathy remained actively involved with several organizations, including the retired teacher’s group and the Bronte grandmothers group in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. And she loved her volunteer hours at the Friday night dinners at Wellington Square United Church in Burlington!

In lieu of flowers, donations in Cathy’s name can be made to the Stephen Lewis Foundation or the Wellington Square Community Food Programs.

Funeral service for Cathy will be held Friday, February 17th at 1:30 at Pine Hills Cemetary and Funeral Centre. Visitation prior to service from noon to 1:30, and reception to follow.