Catherine Dunham

NAUGATUCK- Ms. Catherine Marie Dunham, 69, of Naugatuck, passed away at her home Sunday evening Feb. 6, 2011.

Cathy was born in College Point, L.I., NY, a daughter of the late Earen and Catherine (Seuffet) Dunham and was a Naugatuck resident over 60 years. She was educated in the local school system and was a retired pre-school teacher at Buttons and Bows Daycare, where she had worked for many years. She was an active member of St. Francis Parish, where she worked as the cook at the Rectory for over 20 years. She volunteered at the parish fair and ran the Appalachian Project for many years and started the first Catholic summer Bible camp in the area and chaired it for over 10 years. She loved children and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, and was a published author, having written many poems, several of which have been published.

She leaves her children, a son Joseph M. Retkowski and his wife, Jackie of Naugatuck; 2 daughters, Tammy Marie Markey-Beloin and her husband Phil, and Sandra Lee Retkowski and her companion David Smallwood all of Naugatuck; two brothers Kenneth Dunham of Myrtle Beach, SC and David Dunham of Reston, VA; 3 sisters, Francine Carey of Bristol, Helen Gerrity, and Marie Bonnville both of Naugatuck; 5 grandchildren, Jayson, Matthew, and Travis Markey and Chyna and Davinity Smallwood. She was predeceased by an infant son, and by her sister, Susan Goodrich.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday Feb. 12, 2011 at 10:15 am from the Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St, and proceed to St. Francis of Assisi Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday Feb. 11, 2011 from 6 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children of the Light Foundation, c/o Rev. Robert Kwiatkowski, St. Teresa of Avila Church, 494 Main St., South, Woodbury, 06798