Cathleen O'Brien Fede

COLUMBIA Cathleen Marita Fede, 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 4, 2014. The Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, with visitation following until 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Born in New Haven, Conn., she was the daughter of the late Dr. Edward F. O’Brien and Kathleen Clerkin O’Brien Shea. She attended Springfield (Mass.) Business School and worked as the executive secretary to the designer at Buxton Billfolds. Mrs. Fede’s greatest joy in life was her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and was the emotional and spiritual center of the family. As an only child, she loved the vibrancy of her growing family and looked forward to the times spent together. She loved her many names given to her by family, including Cathleen, Mom, Duck, MaMu Duck, MuMu, Grandma and GiGi. She embraced her role as the wife of an army officer, living in numerous states and abroad. This quiet woman demonstrated her inner strength as she cared for their four children while her husband, Sal, served in both Korea and Vietnam. Through the years, individuals from all walks of life were drawn to Mrs. Fede because of her kindness, compassion and faith. She was a devote Roman Catholic, was educated in Catholic schools and served the church in numerous ministries. She was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Surviving are her husband, Colonel (Ret.) Salvatore A. Fede; a son, John Fede of Clarkesville, Ga.; three daughters, Barbara Masenior (Mike) of Baltimore, Md., Cathleen Asko (Jack) of Fairfax, Va., and Mary Brantner of Columbia; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 190 Knox Abbott Drive, Suite 301, Cayce, SC 29033 or St. John Neumann Catholic Church 721 Polo Road, Columbia, SC 29223.