Catherine Mongeau Funk's Obituary
Catherine Mongeau Funk, 89, of Germantown and Collierville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at home on October 14, 2023 with her family by her side.
Catherine was born April 26, 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota the only child of Edward and Naomi (Vandenberg) Mongeau. She married Paul J Funk August 13, 1955. Catherine had a devout love for Jesus, beginning at a very young age, and sang with church choirs in many different protestant churches over her 89 years. She was indeed a gentle lady who will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
After graduating from Wayne University in Detroit Michigan with her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education of the Deaf, Catherine began her lifelong vocation of educating deaf children especially teaching them how to communicate in a world that was designed for the hearing. Her heart and passion was for these children. She later earned her Master’s degree in Special Education of the Blind from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.
After many of their years in cold country, Catherine and Paul joyfully retired to Florida for 27 beautiful sunshine years residing in New Port Richie on a deep channel leading to the Gulf. There she often enjoyed viewing the antics of the pelicans, dolphins, and other wildlife. Even after retirement, at 70 years old, Catherine’s love of children continued with volunteer work at the local grade school in the first grade as a teacher’s aide.
Music is the universal language and Catherine possessed a talent, passion, and love of and for music. She sang with the Sweet Adelines chorus in Jackson, Mississippi and Louisville, Kentucky, and the chorus and the Barbershop Quartet in New Port Richey, Florida. In Louisville, the group performed locally as well as competed internationally. While in Florida, Catherine also sang with the Thursday Musical group, serving as President for two years. Her love of harmony was developed at a young age singing with her mother and father.
Catherine enjoyed many social gatherings with 2 different Red Hat Society groups in Florida (one a singing group of course), as well as aerobic classes at the area YMCA. She participated in entertainment presentations to the local community promoting the YMCA. She also enjoyed being a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority for many years working towards many groups’ civic goals.
Those who will miss Catherine the most include her husband Paul, children – Dean E Funk and his wife Amy and son Zachary, Debra Funk Stewart and her husband Frank and children Maylee Stewart and Ashley Martinez, David J Funk and wife Kim and children Joe Paul, Kennedy, Walker and Campbell, and a host of cousins and extended family.
Catherine was reunited in Heaven with her loving parents.
A private family time celebrating Catherine’s life will be held at Memphis Memorial Park with burial following.
In Lieu of flowers, the family request that any memorials be made as a donation to the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf (https://mosdkids.org/)
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