Catherine M. Woodruff

Catherine M. Woodruff, 85, passed away peacefully on January 15th, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Nauvoo, Alabama in 1937, she was the daughter of Charlie and Elzie Myers.  She graduated  from Walker County High School in Jasper, Alabama and made her way to Washington, DC where she worked in administration with the United States Navy and later for 25 years as the Executive Assistant to the Director of the Alexandria Library.

Cathy grew up on a red dirt farm in Alabama, a home that she loved so dearly.  Days were spent alongside her parents and six siblings picking cotton, shucking corn for cornmeal and tending to the farm animals. She loved school, competitive sports, her favorite, playing basketball, her best friend and cousin Jean and her extended relatives and church family at Old Zion Methodist. When Cathy was 18, she made her way to Washington DC sitting on a tin can in the back of her aunt and uncle’s Car. She was ready for an adventure! She had an insatiable drive and determined will all of her life to do and accomplish big things. She met her husband, Harroll and they had the biggest joy of her life, her daughter, Beth. Residing in Alexandria, Virginia for some 40 years, Cathy could not have been a more perfect mother, wife and community member raising her daughter, making a beautiful, inviting home and enjoying a multitude of friends and serving her church and community.

Cathy moved to Pennsylvania in 1997 when her 2nd grandchild, Ellie was born. Ready for her next adventure, she built a home in Eagleview, residing there for 10 years and later built a delightful home attached to her daughter and son in law’s home, where she lived for 15 more years. Grandmother, daughter, son in law and grandkids created and enjoyed over 25 years, a special life filled with love, admiration, respect, travel and loads of fun!  Her greatest joy had been raising her daughter and now she was helping raise her grandchildren.  Her family remembers her fondly for her love of sports, politics, local and world news, reading the daily Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Times and-always passing along an article or piece of information one might need to know. She was an engaging conversationalist. She never met a crossword puzzle or jigsaw puzzle she couldn’t conquer. She was a master gardener, building a qoi pond and a multitude of gardens, helping her son in law, CJ create an orchard and tend to every detail of the gardens.  She was happy driving around on her little red tractor and in charge of all the daily tending of tasks at hand. She was an epicurean chef and delighted her family and friends with the best of meals including her famous grilled chicken, never ending banana bread and a homemade salad dressing that really should have been bottled and sold along the way. She was an accomplished flower arranger, often winning the blue ribbon awards with the Whitford Hills Flower Club.  She and her grandkids, Chad, Ellie and Mason, enjoyed bus pickups, long walks, Eagleview concerts, trips to Milky Way farms for delicious peach ice cream and bible study. Family viewing of Jeopardy or a football game was enjoyed routinely. She was an avid sports enthusiast, especially rooting for her favorite Alabama Roll Tide. Hanging out with her family on the porch in the evening with a glass of chardonnay and perhaps a visit from a dear neighbor was a favorite pastime,-one she learned and mastered from her southern roots. She was an amazing seamstress and homemaker, passing along her skills of horticulture and sewing to her granddaughter.  They created a company together, Ellie’s Distinctive Stitches and sold their beautiful designs at local craft shows. She was always sewing something whether custom designer drapes or baby blankets for babies in need with the sewing circle at church. Quiet time, reflection, bible study, church at Old Zion in Alabama, Trinity United in Alexandria and St. Peters in Chester Springs were near and dear to her heart. She had an unshakeable faith and enjoyed living a life of surety and fellowship with her church pastors and friends. Her family will most remember her quiet and fierce love for them, her unfailing wisdom of the years, her kindness to all, her gentle smile, her sparkling blue eyes, and most of all, her amazing southern grace. They are saddened by their loss but find comfort knowing heaven is rejoicing with Cathy’s presence. They will always carry her steadfast love in their hearts and they will shine her beautiful light for all to embrace.

Cathy is survived by her daughter, Beth, her son in law, CJ, her grandchildren Chad, Ellie and Mason and her favorite family pup and pal, Wiley.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, January 28, 2023, St. Peter's Pikeland UCC 1193 Clover Mill Rd, Chester Springs, PA 19425, where family and friends will be received from 9:45 am until 10:45 am at the church. Interment will be held at the adjoining cemetery following the service.  The family encourages no black at Cathy’s Celebration of life rather, florals and bright colors to remember her beautiful and vibrant soul!  

In lieu of flowers, donations in Catherine's name may be made to St. Peter's Pikeland UCC, 1193 Clover Mill Rd, Chester Springs, PA 19425.

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