Catherine Louise Arsenault, born September 23, 1929, passed away just shy of age 94, on September 12, 2023. Catherine was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Richard Arsenault, her parents, her brothers, Nicholas Buccellato, Benjamin Bucell, and Lee Bucell. She is survived by her daughter Cathi Callahan, and granddaughters Mia Callahan (J.P. Gaskin), and Rachel Callahan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Catherine was born in New York City, the third of four children of Nicolo and Catherine Buccellato and grew up in Brooklyn NY. She attended Washington Irving High School and studied art at the Traphagen School of Design in New York City. She taught art at the all-girls Fontbonne Hall Academy in Brooklyn NY. Catherine met her husband, Richard, in New York as a result of a blind date set up by her older brother Ben. They were married on December 26, 1960, with Catherine wearing a dress that she designed as part of a school project undertaken with her students. Richard and Catherine settled on Long Island, where Richard taught high school and Catherine art, and where their daughter Cathi was later born. The family often spent summers traveling the country with their camper, exploring battlefields (Richard) and churches (Catherine). A devout Catholic, Catherine was active in her church community, teaching religious education, creating banners for her parish, and helping care for her parents who had retired and moved nearby. In 1987, Richard fully retired from teaching and he and Catherine moved to Palm Coast, FL, where they continued to be active in their church (Mother Seton Catholic Church), working with the migrant community, teaching bible study and ministering to the ill, poor and elderly.
In late 2014, Richard and Catherine moved to assisted living in Decatur, GA, to be close to their daughter and granddaughters. After Richard’s passing in 2020, Catherine remained in Decatur sharing the peppermints that Richard had loved with those who helped her. She later moved to Tucker, becoming a resident at Atria Park, where she continued to share her peppermints, as well as enjoying playing bingo, attending mass on-site, and getting out to have lunch with her daughter each weekend. Lasagna was a favorite for special occasions, cheesecake a regular dessert, and she enjoyed an occasional treat of Chick-Fil-A tenders and sweet tea.
A Funeral Mass will be held on October 2nd at 11 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Atlanta, with burial at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. In honor of Catherine’s memory, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either Mercy Care Atlanta, www.mercyatlanta.org, or St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, www.svdpgeorgia.org.
