A. Catherine HEISEY

We are saddened to share that Catherine Heisey, 86, of Westfield, PA, is no longer with us, but rejoice with her as she is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior.

She was born Anna Catherine Wolgemuth on October 6, 1935 in East Donegal Twp., near Mount Joy, the daughter of Joseph and Edna Miller Wolgemuth.  She was the wife of Jay N. Heisey and they would have celebrated 68 years of marriage on February 13, 2022.  Together she and Jay have lived in Elizabethtown, Wellsboro, Rexville, NY, and Westfield.  She died on December 27, 2021 in Westfield.

Catherine attended Donegal School, Mt Joy, and graduated from the former Messiah Academy in Grantham.  She was an active member of various churches including Cross Roads Brethren in Christ Church in Mt. Joy, Jemison Valley Church in Westfield, Troupsburg Methodist Church in Troupsburg, NY, and People’s Church of Potter Brook in Westfield.

Catherine lived a life of service to her Lord, husband, family, and friends.  She served alongside her husband in various roles at church, as well as serving beside him in his vocation/farming.  They enjoyed traveling associated with Jay’s business, visiting distant family, and investigating ancestral family sites in various countries.

She loved children.  Beginning in her teenage years, and continuing for decades, she was involved in children’s ministries through Child Evangelism Fellowship and churches.  She had numerous overnighters, parties, and excursions for the children.  She made many memories for her own grandchildren, who fondly recall the Christmas story re-enactments, sleep overs, cookie making, pretzel making, playing dominoes, her special mint tea, doing chickens, going for ice cream, her letters, and her packed goodie bags for road trips.

She was an avid reader and set up numerous church libraries – inspiring others to grow through inspirational literature.  She loved learning about her family ancestry, deeply appreciating her spiritual heritage.  To help preserve and pass along that knowledge and heritage, she authored an autobiography, Changing Times , and compiled an ancestry book for each of her children.

Catherine was a skilled cook, serving hundreds of meals in their home to friends, family, hunters, and people from down state.  She was a skilled baker, specializing in wedding cakes and holiday cookie platters.

Surviving besides her husband, Jay, are:  five children, Donna (Curt) Thrush of Milan, Daryl (Linda) Heisey of Rexville, NY, Kurt (Cathy) Heisey of Westfield, Kathy (Ken) Brubaker of Tyler, TX, and Jan (Rick) Miller of Fayetteville, NC;  14 grandchildren: Dawn (Jason) Wanck, Aaron (Rekik Abebe) Thrush, Barry (Laura) Thrush, Shalane (Tim) Cohen, Drew Heisey, Dan (Kayla) Heisey, Daedre Heisey, Ivy Zhang (Yangli Sun), Lance Brubaker, Alissa (Alex) Clark, Morgan (Joe) Matthews, Ben (Rebecca) Miller, Zachary Miller, and Samuel Miller;  and 24 great-grandchildren.  Two great-grandchildren are on the way, including a namesake, Anna Catherine Matthews.  She is also survived by several in-laws, Richard and Jane Long, Lloyd Myers, and Audrey Wolgemuth;  plus numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by five brothers, Wilbur Wolgemuth, Joseph Wolgemuth, Jr., Robert Wolgemuth, Ernest Wolgemuth, and Clair Wolgemuth; and one sister, Martha Wolgemuth Myers.

Friends may call at the People’s Church of Potter Brook, 62 Rte. 49, Westfield, PA 16950 on Monday, January 3, 2022 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, with a Memorial Service following at 11:00 AM.  Rev. Gene Jones, Pastor, will officiate.  Friends unable to attend are invited to watch the service by livestream at 11:00 AM, Monday, January 3, 2022 at the bottom of Catherine’s obituary page at www.olneyfoust.com.  The service will be followed by a luncheon and time of fellowship.  Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Potter Brook.

If desired, memorials may be made to Tioga County Child Evangelism Fellowship, 16 Charleston St., Wellsboro, PA 16901.  The family would like to extend special thanks to Patrice and the staff at Wheaton’s Personal Care Home for their loving care and support.

Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.