Obituary of Catherine A Sullenberger

Catherine A. (Staschak) Sullenberger, 92 of Irwin, PA, passed away Sunday, September 11, 2022, less than 24 hours after her husband's passing, at Ligonier Bethlen Home, with family at her side. Catherine was born on February 27, 1930, in Mt. Pleasant Twp, the daughter of the late John and Anna (Kernicky) Staschak. Catherine was a devoted wife and mother who took great pride in caring for her family and home. She was a member of the St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, and served on the PTA at her children's school. She was passionate about gardening, artistic painting, sewing, crafts, baking, and polka and ballroom dancing. One of Catherine’s most extraordinary talents was making Pysanky Easter eggs; a Ukrainian tradition she learned from her grandmother. Catherine gifted the eggs to family and friends who keep them on display as treasured works of art.Catherine’s home was the annual summer vacation for countless nieces, nephews and her children's friends who felt like they had won the lottery if their visit coincided with the annual Carpenters’ Picnic.Besides her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, William (Bill); dearly missed son Kevin; brother John Staschak; and sister Rose Hollis. Catherine is survived by her children; Geralyn (Dan) Clevenger of Homer City, PA; Greg (Lisa) Sullenberger of Ligonier, PA; and Janet Trautman of Hershey, PA; daughter-in-law, Tamara Sullenberger of Irwin, PA; sisters Joan (Jack) Gade of Warren, OH and Patty Biskup of St. Mary’s, PA; sister-in-law Maryann Walthour; grandchildren Andrew (Nicole) and Jessica Clevenger, Adam and Jordan Sullenberger, Braden and Beckett Sullenberger, Eva Trautman, and great granddaughter, Lucy Clevenger.Catherine was a gentle and lovely person who could be counted on for a smile and a kind word. She was gracious and dedicated and everything you could want in a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She will be missed.Catherine will be laid to rest from the Jay A. Hoffer Funeral Home, 2245 Mt. Pleasant Road, Norvelt. Visiting hours are 6-8 pm Wednesday, September 21 and 10-11 am, Thursday, September 22. Transfer prayers by Reverend Regis J. Dusecina are at 11 am, Thursday, September 22 in the funeral home followed by her Interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Trauger, PA.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, 624 E. Pittsburgh, St., Greensburg, PA 15601.Online condolences may be made at www.hofferfuneralhome.com.