Catherine Grella

The family asks that those who wish to express sympathy offer donations in Catherine Grella’s memory to https://www.tenderlovingcats.org/memorial-and-honorarium-donations.html

Catherine Grella passed away peacefully on February 5, 2024, surrounded by family. She was 94 years old. Catherine was predeceased by her beloved husband, Vincent and her brothers, John and Clement (Frank) Bagatta.

She will be deeply missed by her two children, Christine San Roman and Robert Grella, as well as her grandchildren, William, Gabriela and Michael San Roman and her great granddaughter, Isabella Rose San Roman.

Living through the Great Depression, World War II and the very early loss of her father, Catherine overcame a challenging childhood in Woodbury, NY, thanks to her resilient, courageous, hopeful and positive personality as well as the support from her hardworking, loving mother, Josephine, and her two brothers. Despite these hardships, Catherine always spoke about the joys of living in what was then her rather rural community: picking wild blueberries; selling wildflowers from the roadside; the close bonds with her mostly Italian-American neighbors; the escapades and deep ties with her brother, Clement; and the wonderful meals cooked by her mother.

Catherine’s strong work ethic, independence, positive outlook, joy and bottomless love were evident throughout her life and encouraged in her children. She particularly relished her role as “Nanny” to Billy, Gaby and Michael.

Catherine was always proud of her decades-long career at Hofstra University where she worked in several capacities. She was a trusted, dependable, hardworking colleague but she particularly enjoyed being surrounded by the younger college students. It was not unusual for her to spend a lunch hour shuttling a minivan full of students to the Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall. She decided on full-time retirement in her mid-sixties but quickly changed her mind, missing the regular personal interaction. Thereafter, she worked part time at Hofstra into her early eighties.

Catherine was always open to and not afraid of new adventures. She eagerly accepted invitations from her daughter or son to visit such places as Europe, the Caribbean or Hawaii. Even as a young parent, when finances were tight, she always worked hard (sometimes working full-time and part-time jobs simultaneously) to save money for and organize, on her own, short family trips, whether they be to Washington, DC, to CT to chop down Christmas trees or to go horseback riding. Each trip, however simple, was always a fun adventure that bound the family closer together.

In addition to raising two successful children, one of Catherine’s proudest accomplishments was to buy a small, rather rundown bungalow on Eatons Neck, LI, and transform it into an important focal point of immediate and extended family activities. After her husband died and a Nor’easter essentially destroyed the beach home in 1991, she was able to rehab the small house so it could continue to serve its important family function. Some of our fondest memories are of the laughter of large family get-togethers or of the shared silent enjoyment of the beautiful sunsets over Huntington Bay.

A description of Catherine’s life would be incomplete without mentioning her love for animals. Her children’s early lives were blessed with the constant presence of pets – turtles, injured birds and, of course, one or two rescued dogs. Even into advanced age, she was determined to take care of stray cats at Hofstra and at her home in Mineola.

Though we will miss her, the unending love she provided and the wonderful family memories she created will always be cherished and passed along through the generations.