Catherine D. DiBlasi

Catherine Delphine (Pertin) DiBlasi, 98, of Peabody, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2024. She was born to her late parents, Florence and Anthony Pertin, on September 7, 1925 in New York City. Catherine grew up in Queens, NY and attended Flushing High School and later Queens College where she received a BA degree in Elementary Education in 1947. Following WWII, she married her high school sweetheart, Ted DiBlasi, with whom she shared 73 years of loving marriage until his death in 2020.

Catherine returned to teaching in 1966 at Wantagh Elementary School until her retirement in 1981. She delighted in her first graders and teaching colleagues, many of whom remained friends for life. Catherine was a loving and involved mother and grandmother, known as Mom, Grandma, Nana or Nanny to her large family. She shared her love of reading to all generations. Books were her favorite gifts to give or receive. She also sewed, embroidered, quilted and painted. Many of her creations remain treasured possessions. The time spent and the memories made with her beloved family members were precious to Catherine. Whenever she was needed, she’d be at the ready to support and care for her children or grandchildren. Her free time was usually spent reading, sitting in the sunshine or caring for Ted. His passing was a great loss to Catherine but one she bore with love, dignity and faith.

Surviving Catherine are her children, Elizabeth Campion, Aileen Tubridy and her husband Dave, Catherine Meany and her husband Jack, Mary DiBlasi-Crain and her husband Steven, Theresa Berkman, and her daughter-in-law Kathleen DiBlasi; her grandchildren, Vivian Desiderio and her husband Albert, Jennifer Way, Clare Wheadon and her husband Joseph, Maura Tubridy, Elizabeth Jones and her husband Jason, Erika Coletti and her husband Robert, Patrick Meany and his wife Ashley, Giselle Pugh and her husband Anthony, Jonathan DiBlasi, Theodore DiBlasi and his wife Lucy, Rebecca Baldwin and her husband John, Sarah Christensen and her husband Erin, Olivia Lublanecki and her husband Michael, Grace Berkman and James Berkman; her great-grandchildren Maggie, Victor, Vincent, Valen, Victoria, David, Theodore, Skylar, Dakota, Hunter, Maeve Catherine, Brynn, Eli, Calvin, Hudson, Porter, Emmy Catherine, Noah, Finley, Esther, Julien, and Theodore; her great-great-grandchildren, Samuel and Joseph Theodore. She is also survived by her brother, Leon Pertin, as well as many other dear relatives and friends.

Catherine was predeceased by her husband Ted, her son Theodore, her son-in-law Francis Campion Jr. and her grandson Francis Campion III.

Arrangements: A funeral Mass will be celebrated on January 13, 2024 at 11:30 am at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 85 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead, MA followed by burial at Star of the Sea Cemetery, 140 Lafayette Street (Rte. 114), in Marblehead.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.