Catherine Helen Crozier left us on May 5, 2022. She was 83. Cathie was born in St. Joseph’s Hospital, London, ON. She then lived with her mom and dad, Jack and Margaret (Cullen) Crozier in London until she was 6. When she was 6, her dad, a CIBC banker was transferred to Parkhill as an accountant.
Cathie loved growing up in Parkhill, a town of 1000, where she was a tomboy, climbing trees and playing “Cowboys and Indians”. When she was 7, her brother Dave came along, and at 9 her sister Jane. At age 12 Cathie joined the local Girl Guide Association. Cathie loved Girl Guides, Its principals, and it’s fun. She worked hard at earning badges for her uniform, signifying various difficult tasks needed toward the “Gold Cord”, the highest honour in Guiding. It is literally a gold cord worn as a small wreath under the right epaulet of her uniform. It was presented to the successful guides in a formal ceremony at the Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto by Madame Vanier. Also receiving her “Gold Cord” that day was Barbara Cook who was also accepted by St. Joseph’s, London as a candidate for a 3-year diploma RN. She and Cathie then became lifelong friends.
After she and Cathie graduated, Cathie worked 2 years at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Hamilton in the newborn and premature baby unit. Then after enjoying a 5-day holiday in New York City, Cathie fell in love with New York and moved there 2 years later. She worked there mainly at St. Luke’s Hospital for 23 years on med surgery floors, ICU, CCU and open-heart recovery.
Indulging her love in theatre, she attended every Broadway play she was interested in and studied acting at the Herbert Berghoff Studio, an inexpensive but excellent acting studio run by the prestigious Director Herbert Berghoff and his wife actress Uta Hagen. Cathie acted in a couple Off-Off Broadway plays.
Her remaining 20 years of work were in London, ON where her parents retired. She worked on med-surg floors at Victoria Hospital and relief work at various nursing homes, alternating with the 23 years in New York.
Upon retirement, Cathie moved to Stratford. She had visited there as a girl with mom, dad, Dave and Jane, loving its beauty, enjoying picnics by the river, canoeing along it, and seeing many plays at The Festival. In her early days of retirement, Cathie was quite active in the community. She was a reader at her church, creating gardens as a member of the civic Beautification committee, and helping with the Winterfest committee. She loved the history of the railroad in Stratford.
Cathie enjoyed working as a volunteer Friend of The Festival, doing office service and helping man the info desk. She continued enjoying the annual plays, eating at the many fine restaurants, shopping at the unique stores and most of all, treasuring her friends.
A funeral Mass for Catherine will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, 96 Huron Street, Stratford on Tuesday, May 10, at 11 a.m. Interment at Avondale Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford. 519.271.7411 www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
