Catherine Marie Emmel

Catherine Marie Emmel

Catherine Marie Emmel of Kilgore passed away at age 92 on Sunday, May 2, 2021 in Kilgore.

Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the Christ the King Catholic Church in Kilgore with Father Daniel Dower. Family and friends are also welcomed to pay their respects during visitation before the service from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on June 5, 2021, at Rader Funeral Home. Services to be held in New Jersey will be announced at a later date.
Catherine Marie Emmel was born on September 2, 1928 to the late Jack William Bush and Catherine Louise Seidling in Norwood, Ohio. She grew up with her two brothers Jack and William Bush. She graduated St. Michael’s high school in Flint Michigan. During this time, she was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and she worked part time as a model. After school Catherine (Cathy) married the love of her life, John Joseph Emmel (Jack). They had six children together: Donna, Carol, John, Sharon, Joseph, and Eric Emmel. Cathy was a doting and dedicated wife and mother. While raising her 6 children in Camden NJ, she was an active member the 14th Ward Democratic Club, Lions Club and the Coast Guard Axillary. Cathy was also involved in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and many PTAs and volunteered for the Ambulance Squad. She was also a member of St. George’s parish. Later Cathy & Jack moved to Avalon NJ where she was active in the Avalon Manor Association and continued with Jack as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In Avalon, she was a parishioner and a Eucharistic minister at Maris Stella church. Cathy worked for Bell Telephone company for twenty-five years before retiring and moving with her husband to Fairhope Alabama. She loved to travel and traveled throughout the US and abroad traveling to Germany, Paris, Korea, and Okinawa. After Jack passed away Cathy moved to Arabella in Kilgore Texas for over 10 years. During her time at Arabella, she was president of the Resident Council and enjoyed calling Bingo as well as participating in every activity and party that they had. Cathy was also a faithful member of Christ the King Church.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John J. Emmel; brothers Jack and William Bush.

She is survived by 6 her children Donna Lofdahl-Wac (Dmytro) of Ocean View, New Jersey, Carol Monaghan (Edward) of Daretown, New Jersey, John F. Emmel (Trish) of Oceanside, California, Sharon Clark (Brad) of Kilgore, Texas, Joseph W. Emmel (Myleen) of Okinawa, Japan, and Eric S. Emmel (Rose) of Woodbine, New Jersey; 20 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Cathy was a 5-time cancer survivor fully believing that Gods purpose in life had not been fulfilled so she lived her life determined to be an inspiration to all those around her.

She leaves behind many special memories with her children and grandchildren including nightly video chats that lasted hours playing bingo and pokeno and sharing childhood stories that will be cherished forever.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Arbor Grace of Kilgore for their kind and compassionate care during her recovery and rehabilitation.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Cancer Society.


Online condolences may be left at www.raderfuneralhome.com