Catherine Gadbois

Catherine Agnes Hoch Gadbois

June 22, 1930 - October 12, 2023

Catherine was born in Minneapolis to Eleanor Mary Kearney Hoch and Edward George Hoch. The youngest of eight children, she had no shortage of amusing tales to tell of growing up at 4100 Aldrich with siblings Rob, Charles, Mildred, Eleanor, Bill, Laurence, Winnie, and cousin Beth.

As a girl, Catherine walked to Clara Barton and Incarnation schools. She later took the streetcar to Academy of Holy Angels high school and the College of St Catherine. She shared many happy memories of riding the Lake Harriet streetcar.

Upon completing her Elementary Education degree, Catherine commenced her teaching career in 1952 at the Lafayette School in Minneapolis. Each day included playing the classroom piano while accompanying children singing.

Catherine married Charles (Chuck) Gadbois of Robbinsdale in 1954. They established their household in a tiny apartment in Virginia, Minnesota. The school district prohibited married women teachers, so Catherine was unable to teach there. Chuck was employed as a social worker serving clients in the remote reaches of the Iron Range.

Together Catherine and Chuck raised four children while living in Virginia, Coon Rapids, and St Cloud. In 1972 they moved to a house they had designed on Long Lake outside St Cloud. In 1981 Catherine returned to teaching in Special Education at St Cloud Apollo and Tech high schools until she retired in 1995.

Catherine was a smart and dedicated volunteer. She initiated tree planting at Morris Bye Elementary in Coon Rapids, co-founded the Sherwood Northerns 4-H club and the Saint Cloud All-City Marching Band, and served as Board President of the Clearwater-Clear Lake Food Shelf. Catherine was a longtime parishioner of St Marcus Catholic Church in Clear Lake, serving as an organist there for several years.

A dear friend to many, Catherine enjoyed companionship in her steadfast Becker Community Center water exercise class, St Cloud Retired Educators at Minnesota (SCREAM), the whip-smart book club of Sherwood Shores, and her infamous Red Hat Society chapter.

Catherine's beloved husband Chuck passed away in 1991.

She is survived by sister Winnie Conger of Anoka, children Steve Gadbois (Andree Glenn), Ginny Gadbois Green (Thom Green), Larry Gadbois (Manchi Gadbois), and Ellen Gadbois (Keith Campbell); grandchildren Erin Green, Kerry Green (Mart Viirand), Ben Gadbois, Matthew Gadbois, Alex Campbell, Ian Campbell, step-grandchildren Portia Clark (Chaz Clark), David Jones (Nadine Herrera), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and step-great-grandchildren.

Catherine's family holds deep gratitude for the compassionate care provided over the past few years by the staff of Lyngblomsten in St Paul, Allina Hospice, and St Benedict's Senior Community in St Cloud.

A celebration of Catherine's life will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 County Road 137, St Cloud, at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 18, with visitation one hour prior. Reception to follow.

Memorials preferred to a local food shelf or charity of the donor's choice.