Catherine (Cathy) M. Traylor, 84, of Windsor, passed away on Feb. 5 at Maine Medical Center in Portland with her children and grandchildren by her side.
Cathy was born at home on Oct. 25, 1933 in Bronx, N.Y. to the late Joseph and Grace (Enright) McCrain.
She worked several jobs while living in New York and New Jersey. Once she married and began her family, she chose to be a stay-at-home mom.
Upon moving to Maine in 1984 she worked as a custodian for many years at Windsor Elementary School. She built lasting relationships with the staff and community members. The students loved her dearly as she did them. They looked up to her and always appreciated her beautiful smiles and warm caring hugs. To this day the past students remember her and share their stories of her and how much they loved her.
Catherine was always there to lend a helping hand no matter what. She was a very beautiful person inside and out. Her beautiful blue eyes stood out from across the room. She prided herself on using Ponds Cold Cream to keep her looking young, and that it did.
She enjoyed going to church, shopping at Wal-Mart, and watching TV. She absolutely adored her two cats, Pat and Cat, but more than anything she cherished her time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she loved unconditionally.
Cathy was member of Saint Michael’s Parish, attending Saint Augustine’s Church.
She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Emmett Traylor; daughter, Grace Theresa Burns; brothers, William McCrain, James McCrain, and Thomas McCrain; sisters, Eileen Baer, Grace Calvano, and Joan McCrain; all-time favorite son-in-law, Dick Bell; step-daughter, Gloria Traylor; dog, Jake; and precious cats, Buttons and Garfield.
She is survived by sons, Robert Burns and partner Karen McCarthy of Windsor, Richard Burns and wife Andrea of Berwick, and Patrick Burns of Augusta; daughters, Catherine Bell and partner Douglas Medina of Palermo, and Therese Barrett and partner Albert Knights Jr. of Vassalboro; sisters, Lois Ozga of Dumont, N.J., Patricia Stone and husband Warren of Ringe, N.H., and Dorothy Pierce of Bronx, N.Y.; brothers, Joseph McCrain and wife Joyce of Coram, N.Y., and Edward McCrain and wife Mary of Albertson, N.Y.; step-daughters, Gail Traylor-Garcia of Tampa Bay, Fla., and Cindy Traylor Housman of Toms River, N.J.; grandchildren, Kelly, Pamela, Michael, Keith, Christina, Nikole, Amber, Mollie, Richie, Allison, Nicole, Brad, Brooke, Katie, Nikki, Douglas, Matt, Austyn, Annika, and Michayla; several great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., Feb. 24 at Saint Augustine’s Church of Saint Michael’s Parish. A celebration of Cathy’s life will follow from 1-4 p.m. at the American Legion Post 179, South China.