Memorial

Catherine Patricia Bader, 92, of Cedar Rapids passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 15, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home with a vigil service starting at 4:00 PM.  Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 1224 5th Street SE, with Deacon Robert Hurych.  The inurnment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  

Catherine was born Feb 28, 1925 in Cedar Rapids, IA to John Joseph (Jack) and Julia Scanlon O’Connell.  She was baptized and proudly attended school at Immaculate Conception and Mount Mercy College.  She married Ralph Bader on May 17, 1947.  United in their strong Catholic faith, they brought nine children into the world, lovingly building a life together before his unexpected death in 1969.

Catherine was a talented pianist, instilling the love of music in all her children.  She was a skilled seamstress and the original “fixer-upper”, finding hidden treasures at garage sales to be repurposed as classics in her home. Always eager to master new skills, she took classes to reupholster, refinish, and re-cane furniture.  She loved to travel, exploring regions across the US to see family and friends.

Catherine was fiercely proud of her Irish heritage, traveling several times to Ireland with her siblings and children to see treasured relatives and enjoy the beauty of the Isle.  She stressed the importance of family to her children and was extremely proud of the close bond they formed around her.  Widowed at an early age, her strength and devotion were key in raising nine children on her own.  She considered that her primary career, although she later served many years as an administrative assistant to Dr. Cecilia Kurtz and Dows Real Estate.

She is survived by her children Tom (Marilyn) Bader, Beaverton, OR; Christine (Keith) Sands, John Kevin (Ann) Bader; all of Cedar Rapids, Lisa (Tom) Swanson of Davenport; Bob (Irma) Bader, San Rafael, CA; Dave (Marcy) Bader, Cedar Rapids; Mike Bader, Missoula, MT; Mary (Steve) Kray, Cedar Rapids; and Carol Bader of San Diego; 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, brother John O’Connell and sisters Agnes Case and Winifred Matejka, and daughter-in-law, Julie Madalon.  

The family would like to thank Dr. Mary Ann Nelson and the staff at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House and Hiawatha Care Center for their care and compassion. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House or your favorite charity.