Obituary of Catherine Elizabeth Lingle

Catherine Elizabeth Lingle, age 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of September 18th, 2016 at her daughter’s home in Southlake, Texas. Services: 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at The Laurel, 2040 Enchanted Way, Grapevine, TX. Interment: 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26 at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. She was born at home on her family’s farm in North Judson, Indiana on December 28, 1930 to Italian immigrants Thomas F. Griffo and Mary Grace Griffo. She was the youngest and only daughter of six children, which may be why she was her father’s favorite. Her brother’s names were Gregory, James, Ralph, Anthony and Thomas. Growing up during the 1930’s on a farm raising animals and growing crops, she quickly learned the meaning of hard work but also simple pleasures. Some of these included eating fresh picked produce directly from the fields, catching fireflies on a summer night, watching the beautiful fall colors give way to the winter snow, and enjoying a fried green pepper sandwich from her mother’s kitchen. Her mother was a great cook and had frequent visits from relatives from Gary, Indiana and Chicago. Catherine attended Catholic school at Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in North Judson, Indiana. In 1942 her parents decided to sell the farm and move to California. Her dad bought a house in Monrovia and then a farm in Fontana. Catherine attended both Chaffey High School in Ontario and Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte (M.A.D.) High School in Monrovia where she graduated. While in high school, she loved music and playing the clarinet in the school concert and marching bands and excelled in Home Economics. Around her final year in high school, her father again bought a house in Monrovia on Lemon Street. Living on that same street was the Lingle family, whose son Richard had returned home to live with his parents after serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Catherine’s beauty and smile soon caught Richard’s eye and, after only 3 months, Richard and Catherine eloped and got married on July 3rd, 1949 at the Wee Kirk o’the Heather Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The newlyweds soon became parents to their first child, Everett King (E.K.). Not far behind came their other children Roger Curtis, Charise Marie, Darla Jean, and finally Darryl Alan. In the midst of starting their family, they purchased a new house in the developing community of Anaheim. It was here that they raised their five children and lived for 62 years and recently celebrated 67 years of marriage. Over the years, along with serving in the most important job in the world as Wife and Mother, Catherine, or Cathy as she was known by many, also worked part-time outside the home in a printing office. She later retired at Mervyn’s department stores, volunteering on the PTA at the elementary school, serving as a local polling official for local and national elections, and at local thrift store charity benefitting those less fortunate. Her wonderful cooking skills were known far and wide and visit to her home would find her busy in the kitchen cooking for one or many. Her famous pies gained the brand of “Modest Mom’s” due to her humble assertion that they were simply the best (she was right)! Her involvement in her children’s lives took many forms too numerous to mention here, but included attending numerous football games, parades, concerts, and making prom dresses by hand for the girls, and driving the kids endlessly to one event or another. All of her family and friends were covered by a blanket of endless prayers. After the many wonderful years, laughter and memories on Bush Street, Richard and Catherine moved to Southlake, Texas to live with their daughter when Catherine’s health began to suffer. She is survived by her husband Richard, sister-in-“love” Shirley Griffo, and all of her children, eleven Grandchildren and ten Great-Grandchildren (with one on the way.) Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, all of her brothers, and many cherished relatives and friends. Catherine’s lasting legacy is not one of temporal things of this world, but in the profound love and sacrifice for her husband, children, neighbors and the many people who she met over years. Her enduring positive attitude, words of encouragement, generosity, and strong faith in God has nourished all of us and continues to change us for the better. It is with a deep sense of loss and heavy hearts that we part with our beloved wife, mother and friend for a time, until that glorious day when we shall see her again. In closing is the closing paragraph from a brief auto-biography that she wrote as a lasting message to her children and grandchildren…”Life is not always fancy clothes and fancy surroundings, but love and the joy of laughter and good company. I sure hope I have instilled all those great qualities in my children, grandchildren and your children. Enjoy life and each other. Be happy with what you have and don’t feel left out when you don’t have as much as your neighbor has. Do the best with what you have, and enjoy the good and not so good of others. Always be understanding of everyone, and always offer help to others. I have tried to do that as long as the good Lord allows me to””