Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, California Province - Sister Catherine Arnoldy

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Sister Catherine Arnoldy - A Peaceful Passing

Birthday girl, Sr. Catherine Arnoldy and Sr. Yvonne Bondi

Just a month after celebrating her 100th birthday, Sister Catherine, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 82 years, died peacefully on January 16. Born on December 17, 1909 in Tipton, Kansas, Catherine was one of Max and Katherine Arnoldy's eleven children. When the family relocated to Marysville, CA, Sr. Catherine attended and graduated from Notre Dame High School. Catherine entered the Sisters of Notre Dame at Belmont, and made her first vows in 1931. She attended Holy Names College, San Jose State College, Lone Mountain College, and University of San Francisco where she received her M.A. in Education Administration.

Sr. Catherine was known for her generous spirit, friendly and positive attitude, and exemplary classroom skills. She served as teacher and administrator in Notre Dame elementary and secondary schools in California and Oregon, including Alameda, Redwood City, Portland, Salinas, Sacramento, and 15 years in Chico. Thousands of students and families were influenced by Sr. Catherine, and many still comment on the profound difference she made in their lives. Former co-workers appreciated her calm, gentle ways.

Retiring from full time ministry in 1976, she volunteered her services at Notre Dame High School, Belmont, and became the cornerstone of the Attendance Office and Resource Center for nearly 20 years. She treated students with respect, fairness, and with personal care and interest; she also enjoyed mastering the computer system. A side benefit to working at Notre Dame was going occasionally with principal, Rita Gleason, to ‘49er games, and meeting her favorite player, Jerry Rice. After truly retiring in 1999, Sr. Catherine happily spent her last decade at Holy Names Convent in Los Gatos, making new friends, staying in touch with former students, friends, and family, and praying every day for all of them.

Sr. Catherine is lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews, former students and her Sisters of the Holy Names and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Are you one of those whose life was touched by Sr. Catherine? Please add your comments below.

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Theresa May Duggan writes: Sister Catherine, or as we called her "Sister Superior" at Sacred Heart School Salinas, was a great influence on hundreds, maybe thousands of our lives and many of us are better people having known her wisdom (and her gentle determination) to make us all better people.

Rest in Peace Sister Catherine.

Much love,
Theresa May Duggan
Sacred Heart, 1957-1964

Jim Guinasso writes: Sorry to hear of Sr. Catherine's passing, but joyful in the certainty that her hundredfold years of living in the Lord's presence and in his service are being returned to her a hundredfold in God's presence.

Sr. Catherine, pray for us! Her name should be sung as part of the Litany of Sister Saints.

Liz Tiernan writes: Catherine, Claire Blohm and I made up the "Administrative Team" at Notre Dame Salinas. What a wonderful, affirming, kind "boss" she was to work with. I remember that she had such confidence in our abilities that she once asked me and Claire to go back into the building to look for "suspicious" packages after the school was evacuated due to a bomb scare!

We all loved her and she loved everyone- the "girls" as she called them and the children, especially Claire's nephew Jeffrey.
Thank you Sr. Catherine for your generous spirit and loving presence in community. You enriched our lives.

Liz Tiernan

Jim Lucchesi writes: Sister Catherine Arnoldy taught at ND School in Chico, which I attended. She taught and administered at Chico for over 7 years. Her commitment to the order of Notre Dame De Namur and to the education of young people for 82 years is a model for all of us. Sister you will be missed but we thank you for your guidance, example and legacy of - "doing unto others". We are blessed to have known and been touched by your model presence on earth. Until we we meet again - Thank you and God Bless.

Much Love, Jim Lucchesi
Notre Dame School, Chico - 1949-58