Catherine Columbine (Cotoia) Shaw, 91, of Tiffany, WI, passed away on June 18, 2023. She was born March 31, 1932, in Cranston, RI to John & Mary (Di Chiaro) Cotoia. Cathy graduated from Cranston High School in 1949 and from Bryant College in 1951. She worked at Rhode Island Hospital as a Medical Secretary.
In 1955 Cathy married S. Dayton Shaw in Cranston, Rhode Island then, after the birth of their 1st child in 1956, they moved to Beloit, WI. The family grew to seven and in 1967 moved to Tiffany, WI where they lived until 2018 when Cathy moved to Willowick in Clinton, WI.
Cathy was a skilled knitter and crocheter who donated many baby blankets and hats to charity. From delicate infant sets to full size afghans, Cathy could do it all. Let’s not forget her skills as a seamstress and those matching dresses she made for her daughters. Embroidery was also a handiwork Cathy enjoyed. As a mother of 5 she was very involved in her children’s activities whether it was scouting, 4H or sports.
After raising her children, Cathy returned to the workforce first through Manpower, then M&I Bank, eventually retiring from Alliant Energy in 1995. After retiring, Cathy and Dayton enjoyed traveling. They traveled the world and later bought a travel trailer to explore the US. They traded the trailer for a Winnebago motor home and became snowbirds, wintering in AZ.
Cathy was a long-standing member of St Stephen's Catholic Church in Clinton, WI.
Cathy was preceded in death by her husband Dayton, her parents and brother Frank Cotoia, sister Anna Mansi, son-in-law Howell Powder and nieces Debbie Mansi and Sheila Garvin.
Cathy is survived by her sister Dorothy (Don) Sanford of Scituate, RI; her children: Sharon Powder of Palmer, AK, Rebecca (Don) Wheeler of Grand Bay, AL, Stephen (Chryl) Shaw of Aylet, VA, Brenda (Jim) Plummer of Beloit, WI and Janet Shaw of Eau Claire, WI; by grandchildren: Rory (Allison McLoughlin) Kellicut, Samantha (Xavier) Meisinger, Celaena (Erik Kraus) Powder, Dayton and Brianna Shaw and Ava, Tatum and Grayson Carey; great-grandchildren: Sky, Olivia and Matthew Meisinger as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
Cathy’s Funeral Service will be 1:00 p.m., on Friday, June 23, 2023, in the BRIAN MARK FUNERAL HOME, 504 Milwaukee Road, Clinton with Chaplain Mark Maxted officiating. Friends will be received from 12 noon until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gio’s Garden, a respite for families of disabled children. Gio’s Garden 2028 Parmenter St, Middleton WI 53562, giosgarden.org. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared on our website.
