Catherine Hay

Catherine A. (Cain) Hay, age 76, of Willmar, died Saturday morning, Dec. 26, at Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Murdock, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Tuesday, December 29, at the Church of St. Mary and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. There will be a Daughters of Isabella Rosary at 4 PM Tuesday at the Church of St. Mary. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. (www.petersonbrothers.com)

Catherine Ann Hay was born on April 2, 1939 in Benson, Minnesota, the daughter of Peter H. and Alice T. (Langsdorf) Cain. She grew up in DeGraff, was baptized and confirmed at St. Bridgets Catholic Church in DeGraff and received her early education in the public school there. The family moved to Willmar in 1952 and she completed her education, graduating from Willmar High School in 1957. She worked for a time as a waitress at the Puritan Café in Willmar. On June 15, 1964, she was married to David Hay in Virginia and they made their home in New York. In 1960, she moved to Manhattan, New York and worked as a waitress at the Rockefeller Center Coffee House for many years. The coffee house was next door to the Rockefeller Center and she met many friends that were dancers and performers. She retired from there in 1996 and returned to Willmar and worked several years the Bethesda Homes in the Laundry Department until 2007. She enjoyed bowling, knitting, golfing, country music and reading; but most of all she loved being with and entertaining her family and friends.

She is survived by seven brothers; Peter Cain and Molly Wilke of Alexandria, William (and Jackie) Cain of Willmar, Timothy Cain and Karen Schneider of Portland, Oregon, Larry Cain and Beverly Cain of Willmar, Patrick (and Corby) Cain of Willmar, Mike (and Pam) Cain of Kandiyohi and Robert Cain of Willmar, three sisters; Rose (and Doug) Zetah of Willmar, Patricia Ritz of Willmar and Louise Leason and Ralph Schmidt of Willmar. Also surviving are three sisters-in-law; Sharon Cain of Willmar, Iris Cain of Willmar and Vera Cain of New London, besides many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, husband David Hay in 2000, six brothers; John, Terrance, Thomas, Francis, Donald and Richard Cain, sister-in-law, Joyce Cain, brother-in-law, Hank Ritz, one nephew, Ryan Cain and one great niece, Ashley Rieck.

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