Catherine Olszewski

Catherine (Schreiber) Olszewski 73, of Yakima, Wa. went to meet her Lord and Savior April 25th, rejoining her mother Elizabeth, father Valentine, brother Fritz, and sisters Theresa, Joanie and Agnes who preceded her in death. She is survived by husband Richard, daughter Cheryl, sons Ken, Kevin, and Mark, daughter-in laws Kim, Shannon and Jackie, grand daughters Kennedy and Ava, sisters Marie, Annie, Dottie and Betty, brothers Joe, Val, and Dick. The youngest of 12 children, Cathy grew up on a farm on Long Island, New York. Mom always recounted stories of working the farm stand in front of the house and fishing and ice skating on the pond out back with her many siblings. She was fond of saying that " they did not have much growing up, but she would not have traded her family for anyone else's.". Well Mom, None of us children would ever trade our family either. Mom enjoyed spending time with her siblings and their families, Cathy and Richard enjoyed attending the Schreiber family reunion every 2 years. She met her husband Richard while attending nursing school with one of Richard's cousins Rita. Rita actually had intended to set Cathy up with one of Richard's other cousins, but Richard knew a good thing when he saw it. We think it all worked out pretty well as Richard and Cathy celebrated 50 years of marriage in the fall of 2012. Cathy worked as a registered Nurse for a few years before she and Richard started a family. After 10 years of being a Navy family, bouncing around from Virginia, to Boston, and Illinois, the Olszewski's moved to Yakima in November of 1975. Mom's life in a word was "Family". Always the most important thing. Supportive of her children's interests she was one of the original soccer moms before huge stylish suv's made it cool. She carted us kids around in 2 different station wagons to all of our activities over the years. She and Richard sat through many foul weather track meets, soccer, football, baseball and softball games, making sure they were always there for us. Mom was an avid budgeter and saver. To her final days she really enjoyed the challenge of managing a household and staying within a budget. She used to set aside a little each month for a Christmas fund so that when the season came she was ready. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. It was a tradition for the whole family to go up to the forest to cut down a real Christmas tree. It was an all day event where we spent family time together. After looking at all the trees within a 2 mile radius Mom would decide on the perfect one, usually 2 feet higher than our ceiling and almost always the first one we had seen. The family tree was decorated with ornaments acquired over 65 years, some that my father and she had made as young children. New ornaments were added each year. She would play Christmas music for weeks before and after Christmas. The last few Christmases were especially joyful as Mom watched her youngest granddaughter, Ava, grow from a quiet baby to a feisty 4 year old; who, like her grandmother, is never without something to say. When mom was diagnosed with cancer 3-1/2 years ago she took the challenge head on, just like everything else in her life. She fought ferociously to get as much time possible with her family. People sometimes say that a person "lost their battle with cancer" there is no way our Mom lost, she won! She showed us so much about courage, strength, compassion, persistence that will stick with all of us for the rest of our lives. We love you mom and you will always be with us. On behalf of Cathy, the family would like to thank the Memorial Foundation Hospice Care, all the staff at Memorial Hospital, Dr. Brady and his staff at Washington Hematology-Oncology for all of the quality care. A special thanks to Cathy's dear friends Mary Hovsepian, Mavis Wilson, and Donna Tuesley who supported Mom with so many visits, flowers, and meals for the family. There will be a mass service Friday May 17th, 10 am @ St Paul's Cathedral in Yakima. In lieu of flowers Cathy and the family has requested donations be made to The American Cancer Society, Wellness House of Yakima, or Memorial Foundation Hospice donations can be accepted by Valley Hills Funeral Home & Crematory 2600 Business Lane Yakima, Wa. 98901 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Catherine Olszewski, please visit our flower store.