Obituary of Catherine F. Sheehe

Catherine June Fida Sheehe, 92, entered into rest on Monday, September 20, 2021, at Commonwealth Senior Living, Harrisburg, PA. Born in Curwensville, PA, she was the daughter of the late Maria Concetta and Michaelangelo Fida. She was the loving wife of the late Edward H. Sheehe, Sr. for 57 years, before his passing in 2009. They were married in 1952 on the day of her death. Kate, or Nona, as she was often called, was a proud second-generation Italian. Her parents immigrated from Calabria Italy, from a small town called Polestina. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Dominic, Vincent and Anthony. She also had a sister Mary who remained in Italy. Catherine was an ardent supporter of her family and community. She was active on committees at St Margaret Mary Alacoque Church, Harrisburg, where all seven children attended the parish school, before heading to Bishop McDevitt High School. She later served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. At Shalom House in Harrisburg, she was Volunteer Coordinator for many years, and was honored with Volunteer of the Year award for fundraising. She was known as the “hot dog lady” at the Colonial Park Plaza because of the numerous hot dog sales and Christmas wrapping events held to raise money for Shalom House. She was a long-time employee at Sears in Colonial Park and also worked at the US Naval Depot in Mechanicsburg. A strong advocate for education, Kate met her future husband as a college student at Thompson Business School. Kate and Ed were proud to have all seven of their children graduate from college, with five attending at the same time. Catherine loved being a wife, mother, Nona and Great Nona. Spending time with family, cooking a meal and always entertaining her company with jokes and laughter were her favorite times. She is survived by her seven children: Dennis (Martha) Sheehe, Bloomsburg, PA; Edward Jr. (Maureen) Sheehe, Mechanicsburg, PA; Brian (Karen) Sheehe, Lancaster, PA; Kathleen Sheehe, Havre de Grace, MD; Ann (Craig) Rhodes, Harrisburg, PA; Mary Concetta Seidel, Tracy’s Landing, MD; and Francis Sheehe, East Stroudsburg, PA. She was blessed with 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren: Patrick (Kirstin) Sheehe, Owen, Conor, Maclan; Benjamin (Trisha) Sheehe, Savannah; Joel (Nicole) Sheehe, Sienna, Fiona; Edward (Christy) Sheehe III, Edward IV; Margaret Sheehe; Louis (Amanda) Seidel, Alba; Michael (Kimberly) Rhodes, Harrison; John Patrick Sheehe; Peter (Allison) Sheehe; Meryl Seidel; Sean (Ally) Sheehe, Joey; Anthony (Madeliene) Seidel, Leila; John Dennis Sheehe; Catherine Rhodes; Eden Light; Melanie Sheehe; and Matthew Bucher. Friends and family are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, September, 30, 2021 at 11 am at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church, 2800 Paxton Church Rd, Harrisburg. Please omit flowers and kindly consider a contribution to Shalom House, 9 South 15th St, Harrisburg, PA 17104 or St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church, 2800 Paxton Church Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17110.