Catherine M. Lasher

Colonie- Catherine Mary Houlihan Lasher passed peacefully from this life into eternal life on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at St. Peter's Hospice, a loving and caring bridge to Heaven. She was surrounded by her devoted family. Catherine was born in County Kerry, Ireland on November 16, 1914 and came to this country through Ellis Island in 1925. She was the daughter of the late John and Ann (Kissane) Houlihan, sister of the late Martin Houlihan, Bridget Griffin, Helen Beberwyck, Mary Kenney and Michael Houlihan. She was predeceased by her husband James H. Lasher. Catherine is survived by her three daughters (and spouses): Joan Hutson (Earl), Eileen Rogers (the late Thomas) and Mary Ann Harper (John); ten grandchildren: Wendy Salamida (Jamie), Jill Wegener (Gary), Sheri Harriman (David), Lori Daggett (J. Robert), Jodi Della Rocca (Thomas), Staci Rowan (William), James Hutson (Marisa), Amy Mundweiler (Richard), James Rogers (Linda) and Kyle Harper; 19 great-grandchildren: Kylie and Dalton Salamida, Nicholas, Daniel and Gary John Wegener, Jillian, Ryan and Jenna Harriman, Julia and Jack Daggett, Clarissa and Catherine Rowan, Benjamin and Lucy Hutson, Derrick, Andrew and Brandon Mundweiler, and Bailey and Catherine Rogers. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Family has always been the cornerstone of Catherine's life and she took great joy in every moment she spent with them. She cherished her daughters and adored her grand and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed family gatherings, holiday celebrations and conversing with relatives about life. She had a keen sense of humor and made others laugh. She loved working in her beautiful yard planting flowers, trimming bushes and watching nature make its magic. She certainly had a "green thumb." She continued to cook family dinners into her hundredth year. Her favorite afternoon pastime was watching the outspoken "Judge Judy."
Catherine had such a strong faith and hardly ever missed a Sunday mass or Holy Day. She said the rosary every day and was her family's pipeline to Heaven when prayers were needed. She was a lifetime member of the former St. Francis de Sales Church, now Christ Our Light Catholic Church. A special thanks to the church community for their friendship over the years and Deacon Dick Thiesen for his continual love and kindness toward Catherine, his "Ray of Sunshine."
The family would sincerely like to thank the dedicated and skilled doctors, nurses and staff at AMCH Emergency Room, ICU/Neurology Unit and the most loving team of professionals at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital for the excellent care and compassion that was given to Catherine and her family.
Visitation will be from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday, September 15 at Christ Our Light Catholic Church, 1 Maria Drive, Loudonville, NY 12211. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12pm on Friday, September 16 at the church. Burial will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Catherine's name to Christ Our Light Catholic Church Food Pantry, 1 Maria Drive, Loudonville, NY 12211 or The Community Hospice, Gift Processing Center, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208.