Timeline for Catherine Jeanette Medina
Born: August 8, 1928
Died: January 6, 2018
Catherine Jeanette Medina, 89, died January 6, 2018. Catherine, also affectionately known as “Tootie” by her family and friends, was born in Galveston, Texas, on August 8, 1928, to Fred John Gorzell and Emma Dylla Gorzell. Catherine attended grammar school at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Galveston. She graduated from Ursuline Academy for Girls in 1945. Upon graduation, Catherine was employed by the U.S. Army Air Corp and later worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for twenty-six years. Catherine devoted her life to her husband of fifty-six years, to her family, and to her faith. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ambrose, her parents, her sister, Rose Marie Black, and her brother, Fred Gorzell. Catherine is survived by three children, six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and a sister.
Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Galveston, Texas, on Friday, January 12, 2018. A Rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Dickinson, Texas, immediately following the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Shrine of the True Cross Building Fund, P.O. Box 687, Dickinson, Texas 77539.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation for the kindness and compassion of all those who cared for Catherine at UTMB in Dickinson and Galveston.
The world was a richer place because of you, Tootie. We will greatly miss your sparkling personality, clever sense of humor, tenacious resolve and the unconditional love with which you treated us all.
My fondest memory of Tootie was that any visit to her home was a party! Everyone was welcome and she was always urging us to relax and eat. From the time I was small and throughout my adult life, Tootie was always like that. She filled my life with memories and, because my Mother died young and they were so close in age, she kept my Mother alive for me by telling stories of when they worked at the airfield in Galveston during WWII. They were both very beautiful and the young airmen would take them dancing at the Pleasure Pier, where they danced to the Dorsey bands, Frank Sinatra and many others of the day. I can just imagine how they'd "swing." I will miss her and her memories so very much. She was my surrogate Mother and I am so thankful for every precious moment she gave to me and to my family.
Our Aunt Tootie was one of the most fun-loving, family-oriented, life-embracing people I've ever known. She was thoroughly non-judgmental, all-loving, all-accepting and will remain a role model for compassion and kindness for all of us and to me, personally. She connected our family to our past, and had tremendous humor with the changing of times; she always was curious and optimistic about the future. Need a laugh? She could be counted on; need some perspective on a challenge? Yep, Aunt Tootie could give it. She was ever-generous and ever-young at heart. We will miss her immeasurably. Vicki
My deepest sympathy on your Mother's passing.
My condolences to the Medina Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Help tell the story of Catherine by contributing to the Life Event Timeline. Upload the photo of an event...
Post an Event
Our thoughts remain with you and your family. We are honored by the trust and confidence you have placed in us during this difficult time.
—The Staff of Malloy Funerals & Cremations
My fondest memory of Tootie was that any visit to her home was a party! Everyone was welcome and she was always urging us to relax and eat. From the time I was small and throughout my adult life, Tootie was always like that. She filled my life with memories and, because my Mother died young and they were so close in age, she kept my Mother alive for me by telling stories of when they worked at the airfield in Galveston during WWII. They were both very beautiful and the young airmen would take them dancing at the Pleasure Pier, where they danced to the Dorsey bands, Frank Sinatra and many others of the day. I can just imagine how they'd "swing." I will miss her and her memories so very much. She was my surrogate Mother and I am so thankful for every precious moment she gave to me and to my family.
Our Aunt Tootie was one of the most fun-loving, family-oriented, life-embracing people I've ever known. She was thoroughly non-judgmental, all-loving, all-accepting and will remain a role model for compassion and kindness for all of us and to me, personally. She connected our family to our past, and had tremendous humor with the changing of times; she always was curious and optimistic about the future. Need a laugh? She could be counted on; need some perspective on a challenge? Yep, Aunt Tootie could give it. She was ever-generous and ever-young at heart. We will miss her immeasurably. Vicki
My deepest sympathy on your Mother's passing.
My condolences to the Medina Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Malloy Funerals & Cremations
Our thoughts remain with you and your family. We are honored by the trust and confidence you have placed in us during this difficult time.
—The Staff of Malloy Funerals & Cremations