Obituary of Catherine L. Greebe

Catherine “Cathi” L. Greebe, 80, of Maumee, Ohio, died peacefully on November 14, 2023, surrounded by loving family.  Born on March 1, 1943, in Paterson, NJ to Marie Lucy (nee DiVito) and Irving Ralph Kaufman, Cathi was a beloved wife, loyal sister, proud aunt, and caring friend.  She touched the lives of many with kindness, generosity, and a warm spirit.

Cathi grew up in Paterson, NJ and attended Paterson Eastside High School, where she was the Captain of the Majorettes.  After graduating high school in January 1960, at the young age of 16, she pursued a college degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY.  After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree, she began her teaching career in Paterson, NJ, at School 10, in 1964.  Not long after, she met the love of her life, Cornelius “Neil” Greebe, Jr. at The Barn in Wyckoff, NJ.  She married Neil on June 26, 1966, in Paterson, NJ.  They moved to Youngstown, OH until 1969, when they eventually settled in Maumee, OH.  She continued her career in education and was a dedicated teacher with the Toledo Public Schools for more than 30 years spending the majority of her career at The McKinley School in Toledo, OH.  She retired from teaching in 2002, and in retirement, she found great joy working at the pro shop at The Catawba Island Club on Lake Erie in Port Clinton, OH. 

Cathi was a 53-year member of the Brandywine Country Club, in Maumee, OH, where golfing became a passion and she made lifelong friendships that she treasured.  An avid golfer and accomplished skier, Cathi traveled to world class golf courses and ski mountains enjoying these two passions.  Her favorites were Pebble Beach in California and Big Sky in Montana.  She had a keen attention to detail and loved to craft elaborate handmade gifts for friends and family and got great joy out of her favorite hobby: cardmaking!  Second to cardmaking was her love of making homemade pasta for friends and family to share, especially raviolis at Christmas time.  She was a patriot who loved her country, a lifelong volunteer, and a lover of animals. 

She always made time for her family and cherished spending summers in Lavallette, NJ with the Bryn Mawr Avenue crew. Her favorite memories of Lavallette were of the seafood dinners on her parents’ front porch, the 4^th of July fireworks display on Bryn Mawr Avenue, and teaching her nieces the Italian traditions her grandmother taught her for canning tomatoes! 

She is survived by her sisters, Susan K. Lermond (Gregory) and Rosemarie K. Gentner (William), her nieces Tara M. Melchionne (Peter) and Erica M. Lermond, and countless family and friends who loved her dearly.  She was predeceased by her loving husband of 45 years, Cornelius “Neil” Greebe and her parents. 

A memorial service will be held on November 27, 2023 from 4PM – 8PM at Oakland Memorial Home, 330 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ 07436. Family, friends, and loved ones are invited to come together and celebrate Cathi’s life.

In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to the “First Tee - Lake Erie”, 4700 Hill Avenue, Toledo, OH 43615, to the “Tunnel to Towers Foundation”, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, to the “Toledo Animal Rescue”, 640 Wyman St., Toledo, OH 43609, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.