Catherina Kramer (Meyer)
Cathy was reunited with her husband Al, infant son William, and other loved ones when she passed from this earth into heaven thanks to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. On December 8, 2023, Cathy was attended to by several of her children and spouses who kept vigil for some time before she slipped into eternity during the reading of Psalm 23.
Cathy was the second youngest of 11 children born to immigrant parents from Holland. She had a humble start in life on her parent’s St. Vital (part of Winnipeg) market garden and was forced to cut her education short after grade 5 to help run the household while her siblings worked the fields. It was there that she honed her homemaking skills and developed an interest in recipes. It was not uncommon for her to be found pouring over recipe books and being a bit adventurous in the kitchen for most of her life. Almost right to the end, she was still baking pies and giving them away.
Her life was forever changed when she agreed to roller skate with Al Kramer at a Christian Reformed young people’s outing. It was years later when she found out that Al took her home after skating because he won the coin-toss with his friend who also had eyes for Cathy.
That coin-toss ultimately culminated in marriage which was marred early on by the accidental death of their second child, William. Both Cathy and Al never quite recovered from this tragic loss, but it seemed to take a heavier toll on Cathy. In spite of this, life went on and they were blessed with six more children as Al climbed the corporate ladder of an international construction company. Cathy and most of the children were blessed with the gift and experiences of travel to various countries thanks to Al’s job.
A change in Al’s job made a huge change in the family’s lives as it entailed a move to Woodbridge, ON. Since the children were getting older Cathy decided it was time for something of her own and she took a job at the Pine Grove Nursing Home. She thoroughly enjoyed her job and coworkers and was involved with getting better benefits/pay for the staff as the union rep for CLAC. A popular movie of the time earned Cathy the nickname “Norma Mum”.
After Al passed in 2015, Cathy moved to Tollendale Village in Barrie where she enjoyed visits from her family and friends and making new friends with other residents. She became very close with her neighbour Betsy and they would encourage each other with scriptures, watching online sermons together and sharing about their kids and grandkids.
While not without her faults Cathy, had an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. This faith, embraced by all their children, has enabled the family to reconcile much of the past and become stronger, more whole people.
Cathy is survived by: one sibling Wilma (Bill), and children Kate Pops (Henry), Donna Kramer (Neil), Pat Westerneng (Ed), Diana Harbridge (Cal), Wil (Indira), Rudy (Jenn) and Albert (Rebecca), plus 22 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Viewing will take place at the Barrie Covenant Christian Reformed Church, 101 Ardagh Rd. on Friday, December 15, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., service starting at 11:00 a.m. and lunch at the church to follow.
Online memories and condolences may be forwarded via www.steckleygooderham.com
The service will also be available via the following Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89740679145?pwd=cUNmNXlaTWtiRlJ2aVk5L1E0bksyZz09