Catherine Newhall

Catherine (Doty) Newhall, 73, died on March 5, of Alzheimer's disease at the Sunrise Assisted Living in Norwood, Ma.

Born to Irene (Moore) and Earl Doty on October 26, 1939 on a farm in Orleans, Michigan, where she learned many skills to be the very talented, caring woman she became. She also developed an interest in nature in general and frogs in particular. This had led her to participate in a 5 -year herpetology census of frogs, snakes, and salamanders for the Audubon society.

Cathy, being the life-long scholar, earned a merit scholarship to attend University of Michigan after her graduation from Belding High in 1958. There, she met the love of her life, William Newhall, who she followed back to Massachusetts in 1960, when she transferred to Boston City Hospital. She received her LPN in 1962. William and Cathy got married on July 14, 1962, and they recently enjoyed their golden anniversary together. After getting married, the couple resided in Worcester for a year, than they moved to Wrentham, where Cathy took a break from both education and her professional career to raise three children.

The couple changed residence in 1967 to Walpole, where they remained until 2010. Cathy started her nursing career at Norwood Hospital in 1967, than she moved on to Victoria Haven for a few years, than Plainville Nursing Home and finally the Madonna Manor Nursing home, where she retired from in 2007 after many years of service there.

Cathy resumed her scholarly pursuits in 1970 at Wellesley College, where she graduated with a degree in biology, (1975) followed by a B.S. in Nursing, LPN from Northeastern in 1977, B.S. in Nursing RN, from Curry College 1981, and an associate's degree in business from Dean College in 1992. She graduated from every college either summa or magna cum laude. She had taken many courses, but one that is particularly special was learning the Russian language with Bill.

Also during this time, Cathy fought fiercely for her children's education and was involved with the ACLD in Walpole, a group of parents that helps each other be advocates for their children's needs for a fair education.

Cathy also enjoyed quilting, and was an avid member of the Rhododendron Quilt Guild and Quinobinquin Quilt Guild, where she volunteered to help with the shows. Her quilts were admired by many and often won prizes at the quilt shows.

During her retirement in 2007, she traveled with Bill to Italy for a wonderful vacation. Sadly, after this trip, it was discovered something was wrong and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2008. She was very involved in the redecorating of the house in Norfolk and when the remodeling was completed, they moved in 2010 and she did enjoy her house until a fall had made it necessary to try to recover at a medical facility, and could not return.

Cathy will also be remembered by her family for the feat of making Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner spectacularly delicious and always perfectly timed; a good bridge player, and fun bridge partner; enjoyed guinea pigs as pets; friendly, kind, loving, quiet, helpful, and is still completely head over heels in love with William to the end of her days.

She is survived by her husband William Newhall of Norfolk, MA; son William Newhall Jr. and wife Laura of Uxbridge, MA; daughter Mary Miller and husband Ray of Hopedale, MA; daughter Priscilla Claus and husband Ray of Holden, MA; brother Tom Doty and wife Connie of Orleans, MI; brother-in-law Guy Newhall and wife Sandra of Norfolk, MA; and 6 grandchildren, as well as 1 niece and 3 nephews.

A wake will be held on Saturday, March 16th from 3-6 in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home 48 Common Street Funeral Home in Walpole, MA. A private burial will happen at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following: Sunrise Senior Living, 86 Saunders Road, Norwood, Ma 02062, Thomas Upham House, 519 Main Street, Medfield, Ma 02052, or the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).