Houston/Ware - Catherine Cecilia (Lanou) Bortnick, 90, originally of Ware, died on Sunday, February 16, 2020, at The Houston Methodist Hospital, located in the Texas Medical Center.
She leaves her daughters, Donna Bortnick Matthews of Montgomery, Texas, and Darlene Bortnick Abdouch of Houston, Texas. She also leaves her sons-in-law, Ray Matthews and Michael Abdouch, as well as her grandson, Michael Ray Matthews and his fiancé, Brandi Kehoe of Houston, sisters, Alice Lanou Mlynarski of Ware, and Marlene Lanou Lemoine Huie of Ft. Myers, FL, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband Walter William Bortnick in 2007, as well as her father Leo, and mother Mary Catherine Kulig Lanou and sisters, Ruthie Lanou Vallone and Lorraine Lanou Metcalf.
Catherine starting working at the Ware Knitters when her father was killed and the family needed support. Her co-worker set her up with Walter, whom she married. After marrying, she was a homemaker for many years bringing up the girls and later entered the job force when Darlene started school at Warner Elementary. She worked part-time for a Vending Company and later for SIS Bank in Springfield where they lived.
Since 1954 they kept a cottage on Hardwick Pond and kept close connections with the family, most of whom reside in the Ware and Gilbertville area. Later when the girls both moved to Houston, Catherine and Walter would visit often and once they retired would spend several of the winter months with them. On the drive back and forth, they would enjoy gambling at The Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS and then would round out the winter with a month in Florida. After Walter passed, she moved to Houston.
A Funeral Mass for Catherine will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 10AM in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 64 Church St., in Gilbertville. Burial will be in St. Aloysius Cemetery following the mass. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 from 5 to 7PM in Charbonneau Funeral Home, 30 Pleasant St., in Ware.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 58 Church St., Gilbertville, MA 01031, the East Quabbin Land Trust, 120 Ridge Road, Hardwick, MA 01037, or to the charity of your choice.
An online guestbook is available at Charbonneaufh.com
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