 Sr. Catherine McGrath (1916-2009) Sister Catherine McGrath, SNDdeN (Sister
Dolores Julie), a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 75 years, died in Oakland,
California on October 31, 2009. Born on January 5, 1916 in Everett, Washington,
Sr. Catherine grew up in Santa Barbara, California, and entered the Sisters of
Notre Dame at Belmont in 1934. Sr. Catherine's life spanned the 20th century but
her vision extended far beyond its boundaries. Sr. Catherine began her ministry
as an elementary school teacher in Salinas, CA, in 1937 and taught in South Bay
schools until she was appointed to Supervisor of Education for the Archdiocese
of San Francisco in 1956. By 1959, she had earned both a B.A. and her first M.A.
She was later appointed to Directress of Postulants and Junior Sisters for the
Sisters of Notre Dame, always encouraging them to explore and appreciate the
great religious thinkers and questions of their time. She then completed a
second M.A. in Religious Studies at Catholic University, and pursued
post-graduate studies at Notre Dame University, Immaculate Heart College,
University of San Francisco, and Georgetown University. In 1966, Sr. Catherine
became the first women to chair the Theology Department at College of Dame in
Belmont where she taught and administered for over 10 years. As Chair, she
visited dozens of seminaries and catechetical centers in the United States and
Europe, conducting over 100 interviews of major theologians for the purpose of
discussing the major theological ideas emerging from Vatican II. A
forward-thinking woman, Sr. Catherine anticipated the significant changes ahead
for women, both in Church and society, and her own openness influenced the
greater community to understand and welcome those changes. In 1976, Sr.
Catherine returned to her childhood home of Santa Barbara as Director of
Religious Education for Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and remained there until her
retirement in 1993. For several years, Sister resided with the Holy Names
Sisters at their retirement center in Los Gatos. She continued reading,
studying, and reflecting on her life experiences. She spent her final few weeks
at Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland. Sr. Catherine is the daughter of
the late Clayton James and Gretchen Baatz McGrath, and sister of the late James
Merrill McGrath and Thomas Henry (Eleanor) McGrath. Sr. Catherine is lovingly
remembered by her niece, Kathleen McGrath Crabbe, her many other nieces,
nephews, and relatives, her countless former students, and by her community, the
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. A Mass celebrating Sr. Catherine's life will be
on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Province Center, 1520 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002. Burial will be on
Monday, November 9, 2009, 10 a.m. at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln
St., Santa Clara, CA. Memorial contributions in honor of Sr. Catherine may be
made to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 1520 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA
94002 or online at www.snddenca.org.
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Beverly Ann (Eggerling) Stancil Aug. 24, 1926- July 2, 2009 Resident of Belmont
Beverly Ann (Eggerling) Stancil passed away at the age of 82 on Thursday, July
2, 2009, at her home in Belmont. Born fifth in a family of 12 children, Beverly
was raised in Orient, South Dakota, moving to Sunnyvale with her sister and
husband in her early teens where she completed High School. In 1945 Beverly met
and married Harry Stancil, and resided in California, primarily in Belmont until
present day. Beverly's &`Tuesday Night' dinners were a weekly tradition
attended by family and friends for over the past decade. A full time employee
for over 43 total years at L-3 Communications (formerly Litton Industries) at
her passing, she treasured the love and many friendships of her co-worker family
over the years. She also enjoyed (frequent) trips to Harrah's in Lake Tahoe as a
favorite pastime. Beverly was the beloved wife of the late Harry Lester Stancil
(1996), and mother of Gay Stancil, of Orangevale, Jeff (and Donna) Stancil and
Chuck (and Janet) Stancil of Redwood City; and mother in-law of Mary Stancil
McDonald of Redwood Shores. She was the devoted "Grandma Bev" to Michelle
(husband Mike) Fallon, Michael (wife Lidia) Leonhardt, Jeffrey (wife Krystin)
Leonhardt, the late Eric Stancil, Kiersten (and Rodney) Jackson, Courtney
Stancil, Bret (wife Kiley) Stancil, Scott Stancil, Amanda and Katelyn Stilwell;
further blessed to be "Great Grandma" to Johnathan Stancil, Jack and Joshua
Fallon, Carson Leonhardt, Libby Leonhardt, Hailey Stancil, Alexis and Mackenzie
Jackson and Madison and Jacob Stancil. Beverly was the sister of Patricia (and
the late Ron) LoCoco, Marlene (and the late Ray) Orrock, Lori (and Dick) de Geus
and Donna (and Bill) Bailey. She was preceded in death by sisters LaVerne (and
the late Ray) Rauenhorst, Virginia (and the late Bill) Engles, and by brothers
Rev. Fr. Milt Eggerling and Ted Eggerling. She is also survived by sister in law
Eleanore (and the late Craig) Stancil Mahoney and brothers in-law Joseph (wife
Marsha) Stancil and Ken Collins (and the late Betty Stancil Collins). Beverly
attended St. Mark's Catholic Church and Notre Dame de Namur Catholic College
Chapel in Belmont. A Catholic service and celebration of Beverly's life will be
held on Friday, July 24th. at 11:00 o'clock in the Notre Dame de Namur College
Chapel with a reception following at Notre Dame High School. In lieu of flowers
the family requests donations in Beverly's memory be made to the
American Cancer Society ,
specifically Pancreatic Research; Pathways Hospice Foundation, 585 North Mary
Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94085; or a charity of the donor's choosing.
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Luella Jean (Shoemaker) Davidson March 24, 1935~April 15, 2009 Resident of Redwood City Lue passed away on April 15, 2009, at age 74. She was a devoted wife and is survived by her husband Robert M. Davidson. She was a loving mother and is survived by her first son, Robert M., Davidson, Jr., his wife Cecilia (Lopez) Davidson, their daughter Andrea Davidson and their son Matthew Davidson, and her second son, Scott F. Davidson. She was the daughter of Fred and Ada Shoemaker (both deceased) and the sister of Dorothy Shoemaker and Gwen (Shoemaker) Castle (both deceased). Lue was born in Atasca- dero, CA. Her family moved to Warren OR, where she spent her childhood and young adult years. She attended Scappoose High School and graduated from St. Helens High School in OR. She attended Seattle Pacific College in WA. She was a Stewardess for Pan Am from 1958 to 1966, based first in Seattle and then in San Francisco. She married Robert, her husband of 45 years, and settled in San Mateo and then moved to Redwood City. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame for 46 years, where she was ordained as a Deacon and an Elder, and sang in the Chancel Choir for 17 years. She served with the Burlingame Chapter of the San Francisco Peninsula Symphony Assn. Auxiliary; the SFO Chapter of Pan Am's World Wings Int'l; and several community charities and schools. She lived with Pick's Disease for the last 15 years. The family is grateful for the loving care she has received at the Peninsula Volunteers' Rosener House in Menlo Park, a day care center, and Peninsula Village Assisted Living in San Mateo. She now serves her Lord in His Kingdom. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame, 1500 Easton Drive, Burlingame CA, on Sunday, April 19, at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be private for the family. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the following: First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame, 1500 Easton Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010; Peninsula Volunteers Rosener House, 400 Arbor Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025; Pan Am's World Wings Int'l, c/o Dorene Goad, 2126 Coronet Blvd., Belmont, CA 94002; Mission Hospice, 1900 O'Farrell St., #200, San Mateo, CA 94403; or a charity of your choice.
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