Sr. Catherine Marie Skufca, Osu

Sister Catherine Marie Skufca began and ended her 51-year career in education at Cleveland’s St. Jerome School, where she served a total of 17 years. The veteran educator died December 12 at Regina Health Center, after suffering a heart attack earlier in the evening. She had been a resident at the Richfield facility since April 2013. Sister Catherine Marie was 85.

The former Mary Angela Skufca was born May 20, 1929, one of nine children of Matthias and Catherine (Perme) Skufca. Following graduation from Villa Angela Academy, she entered the Ursuline community from St. Mary Parish (Collinwood) in September 1947 and professed final vows in 1953. Sister Catherine Marie earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in education at the former St. John College.

In addition to St. Jerome School, Sister Catherine Marie also enjoyed tenures at St. Francis de Sales and St. Charles Borromeo schools (Parma), St. Timothy (Garfield Heights), St. Mary (Mentor), St. William (Euclid), Christ the King (East Cleveland), and St. Clare (Lyndhurst) schools. She retired to the motherhouse in 2000 and, when health concerns surfaced, she moved to the Saint Angela Center. Throughout her retirement years she was engaged in the ministry of prayer and presence.

Sister Catherine Marie is survived by a brother, Frank Skufca, and sisters-in-law Idamae and Jean.

Sister Catherine Marie will be remembered for her love of her Slovenian heritage, for her friendliness and for her ease in conversation. She was a committed teacher, a faithful religious and a loving and devoted sister and aunt.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.

Funeral Services for Sister Catherine Marie

Wake: 3:00-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, December 17 (starting with 3:00 prayer service)

Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity, Ursuline Educational Center

Funeral Mass: 7:00 p.m. Wednesday

Burial Service: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, December 18

Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity

Interment to follow at All Souls Cemetery, Chardon