Obituary of Catherine Elizabeth Canavan

Catherine Elizabeth (Moloney) Canavan, 81, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully on December 9, 2014. Catherine, the daughter of the late Martin and Mary (Hartnett) Moloney, was born in Yonkers, NY. She graduated from St. Gabriel High School, New Rochelle, NY and lived in Mt. Vernon, NY, until moving to Middlesex, NJ, with her husband and children in 1963, where they raised their family and made many lifelong friends.Catherine was employed by Rutgers University in the BS/MD Program until her retirement in 1997. Catherine's passion was her family, and she loved nothing more than being the communication hub for her children, grandchildren and extended family. She was committed to serving the Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish and School and Immaculata High School for many years. In her retirement, she enjoyed travelling with her husband and other family members and was an avid quilter. Catherine enjoyed spending time with her many dear friends in and around Middlesex.Catherine's life will be treasured by her beloved husband of 59 years, Robert J. Canavan; her seven children, Robert and his wife Jean, Eileen McCarthy and her husband Ward, Thomas and his wife Sharon, Kathleen Truskowski and her husband David, Michael and his wife Kay, John and his wife Carolyn, and Mary Beth Reid and her husband Chris; her 12 grandchildren, Brian, Meaghan, David, Lauren, Sean, Kevin, Kristen, Ryan, Claire, Maura, Colin and Andrew; her two brothers Martin and his wife Carol and Edward and his wife Margaret; her sister-in-law Catherine (Canavan) Hoffman and her nieces and nephews. Visitation for family and friends will be on Friday, December 12, 2014 from 3 to 7 pm at the Middlesex Funeral Home, 528 Bound Brook Road, Middlesex, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 9:15 am at Our Lady of Mt. Virgin Church in Middlesex on Saturday, December 13, 2014. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611.