Obituary of Catherine E. Desso

Catherine E. (Cass) Desso, 91 of Leeper, died early Wednesday morning, January 26, 2011 at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born November 26, 1919 in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of Geoffrey and Catherine Reagan Barthel. Mrs. Desso married Paul W. Desso on September 26, 1942 at Assumption Parish in Bellevue and he preceded her in death on May 28, 1995. Mrs. Desso graduated from Perry High School in Feb. 1937 and from St. John's School of Nursing in Pittsburgh in September 1940. She retired from Suburban General Hospital in Bellevue, PA in 1978 after 18 years as a pediatric supervisor. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years. She was a member of St. Mary Church in Crown, where she was a daily communicant with her many dear friends. She was a member of the Ladies' Guild of the church, the Leeper Women's Club, Wildflower Garden Club, the Red Hat Society, the Western PA Conservancy, and a charter member of Christian Mother's Guild at Assumption Church in Bellevue. Mrs. Desso was an avid reader and enjoyed quilting, knitting, crocheting and gardening. Mrs. Desso is survived by 3 children: Janice M. Bridge of San Diego, California, Karen P. Gaus of Pittsburgh and Bruce P. Desso and his wife, Marianne of Lakewood, Colorado. She is also survived by 2 sister-in-laws: Dorothy Barthel of Pittsburgh and LaVerne Dolley of Florida. She is survived by 5 grandchildren; Colin, Trevor and Seth Bridge and Tara Lyn and Eric Gaus and 3 great grandchildren; Talulah Bridge and Evan and Elena Gaus. She also is survived by a wonderful friend, Claudia Roth of Pittsburgh. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Desso was preceded in death by 2 brothers, William and Richard Barthel. Friends may call on Friday, January 28, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Borland Funeral Home, Inc. in Leeper. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Crown with Rev. Gregory Passauer, Pastor, as celebrant. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to the Farmington Area Ambulance Service or Farmington Township Volunteer Fire Department.