Catherine Abigail Wildermuth

September 8, 1923- November 1, 2022

Catherine Abigail Wildermuth, 99, passed away on November 1, 2022. She was born September 8, 1923 to Dr. Daniel Shea and Josephine Obey. Catherine grew up in Marathon, Wisconsin with her two brothers Andrew and Daniel. They enjoyed many fine evenings of family singing accompanied by Catherine on piano.

Catherine received a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Microbiology and was a certified Medical Technician, with training at Loyola University, Chicago. Catherine had a varied scientific career and co-authored a number of scientific articles. She worked at American Scientific in Madison, WI, and the VA Hospital in San Francisco, CA. In 1949, she moved to New York City where she did biomedical research at The Rockefeller University and was a medical technician with ARAMCO. Initially, Catherine lived in Greenwich Village.

Catherine met Richard Wildermuth at this time through mutual friends and the two were married April 9, 1962 in New York City. They lived in mid-town and in late 1963, moved to Caracas, Venezuela for three years. Once they returned to the US, they settled in Wilton, CT and raised their three children, Mary, David, and Anne. Years later, with the children off, they returned to NYC.

Catherine's interests outside of science and her family included bridge, opera, piano, and martinis. Catherine and Dick were both highly analytical and developing a martini rating system that they fine-tuned through samplings. Catherine also had a sweet tooth that continued through her life, and she would generally enjoy a small piece of chocolate each day.

Catherine was also highly involved in the community, leading Church craft fairs, volunteering at the Wilton Turnover Shop, and inviting foreign exchange students to celebrate holidays with the family. She was a devoted opera fan, taking great pleasure from the many performances she attended at the Metropolitan Opera and more recently from recorded operas and arias.

Catherine was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 42 years, Richard.  They are survived by their three grateful children, Mary, David and Anne, in whom they strove to instill love, modesty, purpose.  Each is married to equally appreciative spouses, respectively, Greg Wiberg of Berkeley, CA, Maria Wildermuth of New York City and John Cardozo of Fort Mill, SC.  Catherine loved her grandchildren and the feeling was very mutual: Naledi of Berkeley, Henry of New York, and Alexandra and Isabella of Fort Mill.  She is also survived by her cherished brother Andrew and wife Bonnie Shea of Minnetonka, MN, and sister-in-law Angie Shea of Ocala, FL, wife of her late brother, Daniel.  And she dearly held in her heart her nieces, nephew, and so many others whose companionship she cherished on her journey.

Visitation and service will be held on Thursday November 3, 2022 from 11 am - 1 pm at Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown, Connecticut followed by interment at Hillside Cemetery, 165 Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT. Donations in Catherine's memory can be made online to The Metropolitan Opera at https://www.metopera.org/support/gift-forms/give-a-gift/?memorial=true or by phone at 212-870-7388. For online condolences to the family