CATHERINE ELISE HUTTON, CSJ
1916 - 2009
Come Lord Jesus Come
Quickly Quietly Gently
(J. Lynch)
Laura Hutton was born on the first day of August, 1916, the ninth child in a family of eleven children. Her parents, George Hutton and Susan Bushaw, raised their family near Manvel, North Dakota. The Hutton children went by horse and buggy to a one-room country school. Laura and her sister Mary (the former Sister Myra Louise) later attended St. James Academy boarding school in Grand Forks. In September 1932 they traveled to St. Paul where they both joined the Sisters of St. Joseph. Laura was given the name Sister Catherine Elise.
Catherine always had a passion for school and learning. Her studies included the Diocesan Teachers College, College of St. Catherine, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Morris
She also attended countless classes, workshops and enriching summer sessions. Well qualified for a long and successful teaching career, she taught every grade from second through junior high and ended with Reading and Math for adults and English as a second language.
Catherine came to live at Bethany in February, 2002. At first she was very active. She enjoyed long walks around the grounds and through the St. Catherine campus. No day was complete until she had studied the readings for the next day’s liturgy and looked over the headlines in every available publication. She took very seriously her job of distributing mailings and printed notices throughout the house.
After several falls and increasing frailty, she needed to use a walker. To compensate she walked very straight and tall—and fast! In time she reluctantly gave up these tasks that had been her trademark at Bethany. However, she never gave up her daily prayer for relatives, friends and former students, both living and dead.
Even when she knew that God was calling her home, she continued special prayer for her beloved nieces and nephews and their families. She expressed great pleasure in seeing or hearing from them. We had to reassure Catherine over and over that yes, she certainly would remember all names when she got to heaven.
Catherine went to heaven “quickly, quietly, and gently” at 9:15 p.m. on July 28, 2009, three days before her 93rd Birthday. What a celebration that will be! Happy Birthday into new life.
Sister Catherine is survived by her sister, Mary Hutton and many nieces and nephews, especially Sister Michele and by the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates.
Visitation: Bethany Convent Chapel, Friday, July 31, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. with prayer service at 9:00 a.m.
Mass of Christian Burial: Bethany Convent, Friday 10:00 a.m.., Burial following at Resurrection Cemetery.
May she rest in Peace.
