SUSIE (WOLTMANN) CATTO

April 9, 1926 - April 26, 2013
SOUTH BEND - Susie P. Catto, 87 years old, of South Bend, formerly of Curtis Drive, Edwardsburg, passed to her rest on April 26, 2013, while a patient at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka. Susie was born April 9, 1926, in South Bend, the daughter Theodore and Sarah Pearl (Miller) Woltmann.

She grew up in South Bend and graduated from Central High School.

Susie had a 'flare' for doing what she could to be employed and to help herself. She purchased flowers and made many corsages in the Notre Dame colors, then would sell them at the Notre Dame Stadium before games. She worked in area shoe stores because of the love she had for style. She loved shoes, and to dress-up and be pretty. She was a waitress at several South Bend restaurants, and also acted as hostess. She loved being with people.

Susie met the love of her life, Attilio 'Andy' Catto, and married him on April 7, 1945, in South Bend. Together they were parents to three children, Paul Catto, who passed June 18, 1969, from an auto accident, Jean Marie (William) Sonday of Grand Rapids and Susan Ruth (Bradley) Schreiber of Montgomery, Texas. There are 3 loving grandchildren, Mary, Laura & Josh. Other survivors are her sister, Arietta Wade of South Bend, and her many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Family who have passed are her parents, her husband Andy in 2004, her son Paul in 1969, her sister Ruth Rinker in 2010, and two brothers, Leroy and Ed Johnston.

After she raised her family, Susie went back to school at the age of 40 to Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac and obtained her associate degree, and earned a scholarship to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where she graduated with a BS degree in education, majoring in English and History. She worked for the Decatur, Michigan, High School all of her teaching career. She sponsored many high school trips to Europe with students and other adults to study the different cultures. She was active in Edwardsburg being a former member of the Delta Theta Chi Sorority. Susie and her husband Andy moved to Edwardsburg from South Bend in 1960, then to Decatur in 1980, and then back to South Bend in 1987.

Family and friends may gather at the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 West Main St. (US-12) in Edwardsburg, on Monday from 9:30-11:00 AM for the visitation time. The Service of Remembrance will begin at 11:00 AM. Monday. Burial will follow at the Edwardsburg Cemetery where she will be laid to rest between her loving husband Andy and her son Paul. Memorial donations may be given to the choice of the donor. Arrangements are by the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg, MI.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Apr. 28, 2013.

01/11/2023 EJS