Waterloo/Wolcott: Gene M. Cathy, 88, formerly of Wolcott, passed away surrounded by her loving family at her home—on her porch, in her swing, by her flower beds, and right where she wanted to be—after a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Born on June 8, 1938, in the Town of Benton, Gene was the daughter of the late Oliver Ingram and Mertie Hughnar of Penn Yan. She graduated from Monroe High School in Rochester, NY.
Gene lived a life of quiet resilience and deep compassion. She walked through this world with a rare, fierce courage to think outside of the box to meet life’s hardest trials with grace, paired with a bottomless well of patience that made every person feel heard, valued, and safe. Her life was an enduring testament to a heart that knew how to love unconditionally and lead without command. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she was the gravitational pull of her family—the steady anchor through every storm and the warmest celebration in every triumph. Beyond the walls of her home, she was an active, driving participant in change for the better, lending her energy and voice to build a stronger, more compassionate community simply because it was right, entirely without expectation of praise or recognition.
Over the years, Gene held many diverse positions and built a legacy of public service. She started as an operator for the Rochester Telephone Company and later worked as an accounts payable clerk for O & C in Wolcott, and for Wafler Farms, as well as many other Finger Lakes fruit tree farmers over the years, budding fruit trees alongside her two daughters and many local youth. Her dedication to her community expanded through numerous public offices for the Town of Huron, serving as Clerk to the Assessors, Assessor, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, Councilman, Zoning Enforcement Officer, and Building Inspector, where she made herself available day or night for the convenience of those she served. She also brought her compassionate care to the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Service Office at Vienna Street and Church Street in Newark, the Day Treatment Program, and community residences in Huron, Savannah, and Wolcott where she continued to visit residents and bring them baked goods long into her retirement.
In 1967, Gene tried to enroll her youngest son into school only to be told she could not enroll a Down's Syndrome child until he was 8 years old. She began a lifelong campaign to speak out for the handicapped. Her persistence with the North Rose-Wolcott School District resulted in a pilot program where her son was enrolled as the first person in Wayne County to attend the handicapped program at age 5. Shortly after that, State Law—with Gene’s input—was changed, and today schools are responsible from birth to meet the educational needs of children with handicapping conditions.
She continued being instrumental in lobbying for educational opportunities and treatment so each child could reach their full potential, serving as a founding member of the Special Education PT Association, Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES Liaison, member of the BOCES Board of Education, and first Chair of the North Rose-Wolcott Committee on the Handicapped, where she evaluated educational plans for each child. When her oldest suffered a traumatic brain injury at 19, her hope and determination to work with him against all odds re-established brain connections and eventually allowed him to reach his full potential and achieve independence. Gene provided all of her children and grandchildren the chance to have a secure and loving environment that supported opportunities in life while creating an unbreakable multigenerational family unit.
Locally, Gene was a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, served and actively promoted political candidates for decades in executive roles on the Republican Committee for the Town of Huron, and volunteered weekly to cook at the Wolcott Elk’s Lodge and the Wolcott American Legion fish fry dinners, the Sunday morning breakfast, and countless other events alongside her family. She proudly earned her Master Gardner’s certificate through Wayne County Cornell Cooperative Extension. She found solace and peace in creating and teaching others about nature, plants, beautiful flowers and vegetable gardens.
Gene was predeceased by her husband, Donald F. Cathy; her sons, Robert (Bob) F. Cathy and William (Bill) F. Cathy; and her grandson, Dereck M. Cathy. She is survived by her daughters, Jeanette M. Cathy and Donna M. Cathy; her grandson, Dominic F. Fratto; her great-grandchildren, Azyriel Cathy and Kaleb Cathy; her sister, Eleanor Parker; several in-laws, nieces, nephews, and many lifelong friends.
Friends and family are invited to call on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at Norton’s Funeral Home, 5925 New Harford Street, Wolcott. A service will immediately follow. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge, 6161 W. Port Bay Road, Wolcott, NY 14590. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Special Olympics New York by visiting specialolympics-ny.org.
She has left her fingerprints on generations to come, and the melody of her wisdom, her warmth, her smile, and her devotion will echo endlessly in the lives she touched along her journey on earth. Her greatest gift to the three generations she raised was her unshakeable hope. She looked toward tomorrow with a bright, expectant faith, teaching that love, kindness, and living a life of meaning where you always try to do your best, are the legacies that truly outlast time.
