The longest continual living resident in Kutztown, who traces her ancestry to the Kutz family, celebrated her 100th birthday.
Mrs. Cathrine Madeira, of Kutztown, celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. A birthday party was held in her honor on Sunday, Dec. 29, following the morning service at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Kutztown. The party was hosted by Gene and Sandy Madeira, and Dennis and Lucille Madeira. More than 120 family, friends, and the congregation of St. Paul’s attended the happy occasion.
Cathrine was married to Robert Madeira, who went home to be with the Lord in 2000. She has two sons, Dennis Madeira, of Dallas, PA, and Gene Madeira of Kutztown. A daughter, Yvonne Madeira, died in childhood. Cathrine has four grandchildren, Michael, Timothy, David, and Denise whose musical talent was heard as they dedicated two a-cappella songs to their Grandmother at the event. Cathrine has sixteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild, Anna Catherine, named in honor of Cathrine.
Mrs. Madeira is the daughter of the late Milton G. Oswald and Helena (Bock) Oswald. Three step-siblings were born to Helena and her first husband, Harry Moyer. Following his death Helena remarried, and Cathrine and four other children were born to the Oswald’s. Cathrine is the last living member of that family.
Born and raised in Kutztown, she is the longest continual living resident in Kutztown. Cathrine traces her ancestry to the Kutz family, after which Kutztown is named.
Cathrine has worked at the Rug Mill, Deisher Knitting Mill, Craftsman’s Printing, Dan Kline Store, the old Kutztown Senior High School, the new Kutztown Senior High School, and Kutztown State College. She retired from Kutztown State College in 1975 at 62 years of age.
When her son, Dennis, emcee of the Celebration, asked for ‘remembrances’ of Cathrine’s life, she said in a stage voice, ‘Just make sure they are good!’ Still showing her sharpness of mind and wit when asked if she had something she wanted to say, she held the microphone and said gesturing, ‘I am so grateful to all who have come. It is much better to be here and hear what is being said about me rather than ‘laid out’ and not hearing all these nice things.’ She added, ‘I thank the Lord for all these friends and a long, healthy life’.
