Dec. 4, 1927 - May 30, 2009

ELKHART -- Barbara Ann Cataldo, 81, of Elkhart, passed away Saturday evening, May 30, 2009, at the home of her daughter in Osceola after a lengthy illness.

Barbara was born Dec. 4, 1927, in South Bend to the late Wayne W. and Bessie Pauline (Rienebold) Bush. She married Peter C. Cataldo on Oct. 23, 1953, in Syracuse, Ind. He passed away Nov. 8, 1999 in Elkhart.

Surviving are her children: sons Frank C. (Wanda K.) Cataldo of Elkhart and Patrick W. Cataldo of San Francisco, Calif. and daughter Melanie A. (Jim) Lung of Osceola. Three grandchildren also survive: Matthew Snell and Colin Lung, both of Osceola, and Nicole Cataldo Gallen of Phoenix, Ariz. Also surviving are stepchildren and stepgrandchildren and several close friends, Phyllis Watts, Betty Yoder, Betty Mann, Lois Losee, June Robinson and many others whose lives were enhanced by Barbara.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Peter, and two grandchildren, Rachel and Vincent Cataldo.

A homemaker first, she retired from the human resources department at Patrick Metals in 1991. Barbara was a 1944 graduate of Riley High School in South Bend and remained active with her class by helping to organize and plan her reunions. She was a 54-year member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, an avid Notre Dame football and basketball fan and a lifelong "Cubby" supporter. She was also a member of a ladies knotting circle which made knotted blankets for many of the area nursing home residents. In her younger years, she and her husband helped by being on the prom breakfast committee at Elkhart Central High School for many years. Barbara was a wicked card player and enjoyed most card games, especially euchre and pinochle. After retirement she and Peter spent many winters in Florida enjoying the warm weather.

She will be greatly missed by her faithful friend and dog, Smokey.

Please join with her family and friends as we gather to celebrate her life from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart., where a parish rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m.

Friends also may call for one half-hour prior to the 11 a.m. Thursday Mass of Christian Burial at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with Father Philip DeVolder celebrating.

Per her wishes, following the Mass she will be cremated and buried next to her husband at St. Vincent Cemetery at a later date.

Please direct any memorials in her name to either Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244 or American Heart Association 6100 W. 96th St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46278.

To share a memory or leave her family a condolence please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.