Sister Catherine White

SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS - Sister Catherine White died on Jan. 21, 2021 in Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She was born April 15, 1947 in West Chester, PA, to John E. and Frances McKee White and was baptized Edith Catherine.
Before entering the Congregation, Sister Cathy, as she was known to all, earned a bachelor's degree from Immaculata College in Pennsylvania and after moving to Oklahoma, and earned a master's degree from Oklahoma City University.
Having taught middle school and also serving as principal in Oklahoma for 15 years, she entered the Sisters of Providence on Aug .14, 1984, and professed Final Vows Aug, 15, 1992. Of her 37 years as a Sister of Providence, she gave three years of service as pastoral associate at St. Agnes Church in Evansville, IN, and then ministered in education for ten years in two schools in California.
She served as director of the South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project for three years, a center whose first goal is to empower women to advocate for themselves, their children and families. In 2004, she began working for the diocese of San Bernadino, CA, first as Safe Environment Coordinator and then director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection. Due to poor health, she left that position in 2018 and came to the Motherhouse where she served in a variety of ways.
Sister Cathy was a wonderful balance of seriousness and frivolity. She served in every ministry with diligence, creativity and compassion. For her work in child protection, she received the 2018 diocesan Amar Es Entregarse Award ("Love is the total giving of oneself"), an award that recognizes those who epitomize this motto. At the same time, she had a reputation of being somewhat of a prankster and always added fun to a gathering.
Sister Cathy is survived by a brother John E. White of Holtwood, PA; and two sisters, Frances Adams of West Chester, PA, and Sarah E. W. Goose of Parksburg, PA. Due to the restrictions on group meetings, her wake and funeral are not open to the public. Because she has opted for cremation, her burial will be at a later date in the cemetery of the Sisters of Providence. DeBaun Funeral Homes and Crematory assisted with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876. One may share or read memories of Sister Cathy on the Sisters of Providence web page at:
www.spsmw.org/category/obituaries.

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