Catherine Humen

Catherine (Kotwicki) Humen, 87, of Rocky Hill, beloved wife of the late Michael Humen, Sr., passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 23, 2023, surrounded by her family. Born in Porto Uniao, Brazil on January 10, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Gregory and Paraskevia (Zukowski) Kotwicki, both of Ukraine. Catherine came to the United States in 1962, leaving behind her career as a Nurse in Brazil to be with her younger sister and embark on a new adventure in America. She met the love of her life and soon married in 1964. They would go on to have three beautiful children. Unfortunately, Michael passed away in 1988 from Hodgkins Lymphoma, and Catherine continued to raise an incredible family on her own. Catherine was a lifelong member of St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hartford. She was also a member of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Hartford Branch, and the Women’s Association ODFFU. Catherine was sure to have her children involved in all of the Ukrainian activities in Hartford, and was also a member of the Ukrainian National Home in Hartford.

Catherine was happiest and best known for her amazing meals and her delicious baked treats she would prepare for family and friends, always making people smile and feel welcomed in her home. She was an avid gardener, seamstress, and crochet crafter, making hats, scarves and sweaters for family members. She could carry on a conversation in seven different languages, making it easy for her to make friends wherever she went. Catherine worked as a machinist for Colt Manufacturing Industries from 1973-2002.

A loving mother and grandmother, Catherine will be forever missed by her three children, Michael Humen, Jr., and wife Joanne of Kensington, Suzanne Davey of Cape Town, South Africa and Martha Bollella and husband Angelo of Glastonbury and her nine adored grandchildren, Alexander, Stephanie, Nadia, Gabriella, Samantha, Oliver, Luca, Mia and Zoe. She is also survived by her sister, Myroslava Szwez of West Hartford, as well as many extended family members. Catherine is predeceased by her nine siblings, all of Brazil.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 2nd at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 135 Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Burial will follow in St. John’s/St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, 1458 New London Tpke, Glastonbury. Calling hours will be on Sunday, October 1st from 4-7 p.m. with a Panachyda Service at 6 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. The family would like to thank the staff at The Holiday Lodge in Rocky Hill for caring for her over the last six years. Nataliya Yasnikovska also took such loving and attentive care of her for her last months there, as a one on one caretaker. They would also like to thank Marlborough Heath Care Center for the exceptional and loving care they provided to Catherine in these last few months. To share a memory of Catherine with her family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com