Cathy Bouchard Martin

On behalf of the entire family, thank you all for coming today.  You love for Cathy, and your support of the family, mean the world to us.

Cathy could be described as being full of life, and her heart was as big as Texas and made of solid gold.

She loved farming……

She loved animals……

And she loved people!

She loved Family more than anything else in the world.

She would host many family gatherings and she was always the life of the party.

Cathy doted on her nieces and nephews, arranging epic egg hunts at Easter, and the Halloween bags she prepared for the kids were out of this world!

If Cathy walked into a room full of strangers, she would know everybody in the room before she walked out.

Many of her friends have reached out to us over the past few days to express their condolences, and there are two common theme:

1.  Cathy was like a sister to them….and

2. She was always there for them.

I would now like to share some sentiments from some friends and close relatives.

From Kevin and Karen Raye:

Shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of a special lady.  Cathy Bouchard Martin was a kind and selfless person with a generous spirit and a great love for animals.  Karen and I came to know Cathy through my political campaigns and she has remained a treasured friend. Our hearts go out to Gary and her family and we will never forget her.

This  next poem and sentiment was written by a dear friend, Tom Drew, and couldn’t be more true.

“If the winds only blew gently..

Then the storms in life could not be measured…

The calm before the storm could not be appreciated…

Blue skies intrigue our imagination…

Clouds tantalize our minds with heavenly fascination…

Like a much-needed summer’s breeze…

We are all only here for a little while…

Selflessly comforting each other with our priceless borrowed time…

If Cathy was in your corner, you truly had a friend…

I am a better person for having had that friendship…

A better debater…

A better human…

I shall miss her kind words and always looking out for me…

From Cathy’s niece, Tina:

When God put Cathy on this earth, he blessed many people with an Earth Angel. With a heart bigger than her body, she held onto everyone’s heart within her own.  She was fierce and protective, loving, always had the most incredible words of wisdom at incredibly impeccable timing, and would help anyone in need never asking for anything in return. She loved animals, especially her indoor and outdoor fur babies, and she lived every moment for them. 

Cathy had a terrific sense of humor and loved to make others laugh.  Many times, she would have me wheezing with her quick comebacks and her sharp wit. Unexpectedly, throughout the day, she would send me a hilarious joke or say something so crazy that had me laughing so hard my stomach would hurt for days. I looked forward to her antics and all of the crazy stories she’d tell me. We would talk daily and before we knew it two hours had passed and we’d laugh about that.  Just about every evening we’d say our good nights and I love you’s.

I will miss these special moments with you, Cathy. You were not only my Aunt but my best friend and I was truly blessed to have you in my life. You are a gift. I know you will always be with me and continue to look after others as you did here. You will always be our shining star, the brightest one in the sky. This is not goodbye. This is…I’ll see you later.  Love You More…Tina

From Cathy’s Niece, Erica (“Kiki”):

It’s hard to find the right words to say when our hearts are so broken. 

Aunt Cathy, you have always and will always be our “protector”. When Anyone of us needed you, you were there at the drop of a hat, no questions asked. You were our go to person when we had nowhere else to turn. I remember the story of when you and Mom were out for a walk and a big, black, nasty dog was coming full speed towards Mom and without hesitation, you jumped in between her and the dog and yelled as loud as you could! The dog turned around and started running away with his tail in between his legs, crying. With you down the street we always felt safe because we knew you’d die to protect us.

Your heart was made of gold. You would do anything for anyone without batting an eye, no matter the cost, no matter the consequences. Your humor and “say it like it was” personality was like no other and you always knew how to make everyone laugh. 

I will never forget what a big role you played in my life. You spoiled us rotten with endless toys, go karts, four wheelers, and parades. Your family meals with extra spicy spaghetti (that almost sent a few of us to the hospital) and your famous stuffed mushrooms… The bonfires that were more like the size of large house fires (I think Uncle Gary is still missing his eyebrows from lighting the big one with gasoline) …. paying Missy and I a hefty allowance every week to do a terrible job cleaning your house….the trick or treat bags and Easter baskets that would put the Easter bunny to shame…letting us ride in the potato trucks with you because we thought that was so fun…you always saying “yes” when mom and dad would say “no”. You taking Mom and I to pick wild strawberries in the fields so you could keep an eye for wild animals. You growing a garden full of peas and carrots because you knew that was our favorite, then letting us have all of it. So many great memories that will always be cherished and never be forgotten. 

I will miss your spontaneous, often times inappropriate jokes. I will miss seeing you drive by in your combine with the biggest smile while blowing us kisses. I will miss seeing you wave like a maniac while we take our daily walks past your house. I will miss our nightly chats and 2am text messages…I will miss my aunt that loved me like a mother and treated me like a best friend.

As much as it hurts, I take comfort in knowing that you are no longer in pain and that you’re in Heaven with Mere Pearl, Pere Gilbert, Uncle Steve and the rest of our family. I can only imagine all of the fun you are all having and I know, without a doubt, that you will continue to watch over all of us. 

It is evident how much you were loved and how greatly you will be missed. You have impacted so many lives and I am beyond blessed to have had you as my aunt. I LOVE YOU AUNT CAT, forever and always. Love, Kiki

In closing, I will read a poem by Kristi Holl:
Rose Beyond the Wall

A rose once grew

where all could see,

sheltered beside

a garden wall,

And as the days passed

swiftly by,

it spread its branches, straight and tall.....

One day, a beam of light

shone through

a crevice that had

opened wide -

The rose bent gently

toward its warmth

then passed beyond

to the other side

Now, you who deeply

feel its loss,

be comforted - the rose blooms there -

its beauty even greater now,

nurtured by

God's own loving care.