Catherine A. Woodard

Catherine Ann “Kaye” Woodard, 91, of DeKalb, IL, formerly of Aurora, passed away Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center. She was born January 5, 1926 in Aurora, the daughter of Albert and Anna Gette. Catherine was a graduate of Madonna High School and attended a secretarial school in Chicago while working at Elgin Watch. She also took many courses at Waubonsee Community College after her children were married. She married Ralph J. Woodard on June 26, 1946. Catherine was always involved in St. Peter Grade School where her children LaVerne and Karen attended. As her children got older she went to work for Anchor Brush Company in Montgomery, and also worked at Brown’s Flowers before she retired. She was a wonderful seamstress and made many of Karen’s clothes. Catherine continued to sew for others, doing alterations as well as bridesmaid dresses for many weddings. Kaye loved to sing and enjoyed singing harmony with her sister Mary, and singing hymns at church. She was very good with a crochet hook and made baby blankets for her own grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild, as well as many of her great nieces and nephews. As she got older she continued to crochet and made potholders, dish cloths and “scrubbies” by the hundreds. She was never one to sit idle, so if she wasn’t busy with her hands she was reading or praying. Catherine was a member of the Ladies of the Moose Chapter 83 and the Altar and Rosary Sodality of Blessed Sacrament Church. Kaye is survived by her two children, LaVerne (Jane) Woodard of Kingman, AZ and Karen (Dennis) Kahl of DeKalb; eight grandchildren: Yvette, TY, Lane (Jennifer), Christopher (Hayley) and Spencer Woodard all of CA, Grant (Cindy) Kahl of Cortland, IL, Brandon (Dana) Kahl of Bozeman, MT and Tiffany Kahl (Lori Angstadt) of Temple, PA; five great grandchildren, Trevor, Kailyn and Brock Kahl of Cortland, Brooke Kahl of Montana and Stanley Woodard of CA; her great great grandson, Leo Meyers of DeKalb; her brother, Joseph Gette of Aurora; her sister, Barbara Rivera of Aurora; and two sisters-in-law, Anne Gette and Ceil Woodard. Kaye also leaves many special nieces, nephews and friends that she enjoyed countless hours of playing cards and games with at Constitution House, where she lived for 22 years after the death of her beloved “Woody”. She moved to Sycamore in March of 2014 after a fall left her unable to live on her own. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ralph J. “Woody” Woodard in 1986; two grandchildren, Troy and Nicole Woodard; her parents, Albert and Anna (Schaefer) Gette; her infant brother, Stephen, and brothers, Adam, Albert and Phillip Gette; her sisters, Margaret Kies, Mary Perkins Richtman and Rose Hettinger; two sisters-in-law, Marjorie Gette and Kathryn Gette; and five brothers-in-law, Laverne Kies, John Perkins, John Hettinger, Noel Rivera and Melvin Woodard. A memorial visitation will be held Friday, August 25, 2017 from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church, 801 W. Oak Street, North Aurora, IL 60542. A concelebrated Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM with Fr. Selvaraj Lucas and Fr. Bernard Schaefer,O.S.B., who is a cousin of Catherine, officiating. Catherine’s nephew, Deacon Russell Woodard, will also be part of the funeral service. Inurnment will follow at Marywood Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being handled by THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY, 220 N. Lake Street, Aurora, IL 60506. (630) 631-5500. Please visit our interactive website at www.daleidenmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book or leave condolences for Catherine’s family.

Catherine A. Woodard

January 5, 1926 - August 8, 2017