Catherine Gloor

On Wednesday our community suffered a tragic loss, with the passing of Catherine (Haff) Gloor, of Ferndale, NY, as she was released from a heroic battle, with her beloved daughters by her side. 

She was the lucky daughter of the late Ernest & Marie (Phillips) Haff. She arrived much to their delight on the day before their 8th Anniversary, February 5th, 1952. She then married her favorite comedian, her beloved Square Dancing Partner, Willy, AKA: William Gloor on October 11, 1975 in a lovely wedding dress she sewed herself! 

She began her career as a National Union Bank as a Window Teller in Monticello. Then took some time off to raise her precious daughters, and renovate her Grandparents home into her own.  

Catherine returned to work at the Center for Discovery for a few years. She also worked selling Home Interiors, in the evenings, which only grew her passion for decorating. 

She then moved to the Liberty Elementary School to work in Special Ed. Classrooms, assisting the teachers as an Aid. She loved working with the students tremendously! When the opportunity opened in the Library, she had truly found her niche! Her lifelong love of books bloomed full circle! 

She spent 18 delightful long years inspiring every young mind she could to love reading as much as she did. She delighted in teaching the students about the wonders of Metamorphosis by bringing in many Monarch caterpillars into the library to change into butterflies before the students' eyes each September. 

Her love of space and the stars sparked her passion in yearly teaching the wonder of the skies by crawling every June, around on the floor into the “Star Lab”, so the students could experience space as detailed and up close and personal as possible. Telling many stories to make the skies come alive, much to the students delight. 

As a wife and daughter of a Veteran, she was deeply patriotic and passionate about her country and the people who had fought to defend it. After 9/11 she raised enough funds so she could purchase books for each student about the history and details of the Pledge of Allegiance, and then hosted a ceremony where the students were presented with their very own copy. 

She also worked tirelessly with the students to make thousands of beautiful Valentine’s Day cards for our local Veterans, which were delivered to the SC Government Center, Castle Point, and area Hospitals, so each Veteran would know how loved and appreciated they were. 

She used her incredible artistic skills to set up beautiful window displays throughout the school showcasing the new books the Library had purchased, under her careful guidance. She wanted each student to have a book to take home each week, especially one of interest and on their own reading level. She had her entire inventory of over 17,000 books memorized and could find a desired title at a moment's notice, much to the delight of her students and fellow teachers. 

She understood some students felt shy to read out loud or alone, so she searched every yard sale in the county every summer to find enough adorable stuffed animals to be transformed into official “Reading Buddies”. She was also on the hunt at these sales for Books to help increase the inventory of the books most in demand at the moment for her students. 

She was an ardent Seller and supporter for Daffodil Days for the American Cancer Society every year. And Mrs. Gloor was also part of the School Mentoring Program, connecting and supporting students who were facing difficult times. 

Cathy was a firm believer in 4-H and the skills it instilled. She loved sewing and made many of her own clothes as well as matching dresses for her daughters and their dolls. As a second generation 4Her, she formed and ran the group Ferndale Friends for her daughters and many other local girls. And as a way to generate a summer income, she formed a summer camp and planned grand adventures for many summers, until she began working summers at the Liberty Public Library. 

She loved hosting parties, for either birthdays, holidays or joyous Pinochle Nights. Cathy excelled at cooking and especially baking. Christmas cookies, breads and cakes were her favorite. She spent countless hours icing cakes to perfection, for many, many different special family celebrations. 

Cathy absolutely delighted in the hunt for just the perfect gift, for special occasions, and was very talented in making just the perfect selection! Recipients of her careful selections, still treasure many of these special gifts, years later, as they were always so useful and thoughtful. 

A life long dedicated pet owner, she always had a cat or dog nearby, bringing her much joy and delight. 

She was also an avid Gardener, loving all plants and flowers, especially the yellow ones! She loved nature, butterflies, hummingbirds, blue birds, and learning about whoever decided to visit her extensive flower beds! Highly intelligent and always curious, she would research each new visitor, delighting in sharing this new knowledge with her girls. 

She loved a challenge, and would daily start her day turning to the Sudoku, Crypto Quiz, Crossword puzzles, or whatever other “fill in the blank game” the paper printed over the years! She would pass the long winter days enjoying putting together beautiful new puzzles together each winter. 

She was a life long and dedicated member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Where she studied to become a Lay Reader, served on the Vestry as Secretary, and was an active member of the St. Elizabeth’s Guild. 

She had beautiful handwriting, and was very dedicated in sending thousands of loving and encouraging notes to friends and family, over the years. And this made her 70th birthday celebration all the more special when over 125 cards were received! It took over 3 hours for us to read each one to her, bringing her much joy. 

Catherine is survived by her husband William, and their daughters, Melissa & Michelle; her brother, Thomas (Susan) Haff and was Aunt Cathy to three nephews, and seven nieces; cousin, Ruth Anne Frostman, and her loving care givers, Paula & Karim, and special dedicated friends, Debbie, Kay and Barbara. 

Visitation will be Thursday, January 4th, 3-7 pm at Harris Funeral Home, West Street, Buckley, Liberty NY. 

Funeral Services will be Friday, January 5th, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, at 11 am 15 St. Johns Street, Monticello, NY. The Rev. Elizabeth Groskoph and Rev. Meg Stapleton Smith will officiate. 

Memorial Contributions in Catherine’s Name may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, PO Box #107, Monticello, NY, to fund a wheelchair accessible ramp, which Cathy so desperately wanted, so she could again attend. 

She fought over a decade against a cruel disease, Multiple Systems Atrophy defying all the odds, and ALWAYS keeping her incredible sense of humor through it all. She chose to donate her brain to further the research, so hopefully no other families will have to face this harrowing battle that has no treatment currently. She was an absolute warrior until the end. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY. 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 For directions or to leave your condolences for the family, please visit www.harris-fh.com