Obituary of Catherine DePolo

Catherine DePolo On the afternoon of August 24, 2011, Catherine Marie DePolo passed away peacefully surrounded by family. Catherine was born on June 7, 1921, the first of four children of Teresa Maria and Bernard Joseph Mancino of Clarksburg, WV. Catherine attended Washington Irving High School and Fairmont State Teacher's College. On August 31, 1942, Catherine married John DePolo of Stonewood, WV and the couple was blessed with three children. In 1953 Catherine and her husband John purchased land on Bridgeport Hill and built what is thought to be the first strip-mall in the state of West Virginia. In the mid 1960's Catherine began her teaching career at All Saints Catholic Elementary School. Catherine taught fifth, sixth and seventh grades over a period of 23 years, and later managed the family office building in Bridgeport WV. In 2002 Catherine moved to Santa Cruz, CA to be assisted in the autumn of her life by her daughter, Patricia Ann Hess. Catherine was preceded in death by her husband John (1997), her parents Teresa and Bernard, and her brother Joseph. She is survived by sisters Sara Byrne of Charlotte, NC and Veronica Griffin of Worcester, MA; children Patricia Hess and Timothy (Gina) DePolo of Santa Cruz, CA and John Lee of Bridgeport, WV. She had six grandchildren: Megan Theresa (Chris) Grenier, Santa Cruz, CA; Jacob John (Jessica) Hess, Santa Cruz, CA; Elizabeth Kay (Josh) Coleman, Soquel, CA; Asha Lea (Jay) Dicharry, Charlottesville, VA; Zachary Lee DePolo, Mobile, AL; Peter Isaac DePolo, Santa Cruz, CA. She also had six great-grandchildren: Luke Grenier, Olivia Hess, Eva and Cole Dicharry and Jaden and Drake Coleman. Catherine lived her life devoted to God and her family. She touched more lives in a positive way than she ever knew and lived her life with grace. She cared deeply for her students, always put others first and never complained. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. God bless you, Catherine DePolo. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 28 from 5-8pm at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel with a Rosary beginning at 7pm. A Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Capitola, CA on Monday, August 29 at 2PM. The following day Catherine will return home to her beloved West Virginia to be laid to rest with her family there. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Catherine's favorite charity EWTN: Eternal Word Television Network, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL, 35210.