A native of Centreville, Cathy was the 2nd daughter of nine children, all of them girls except one. Their mother, Florence Emory who was a music teacher and violinist, made sure that all 9 children learned to play the piano. They attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and participated in the musicals. The family would sing in harmony at Mass, whenever they took trips, and especially around the holidays. After high school, Cathy attended Loyola College in Baltimore, leading a folk group for a Sunday Mass, taking music classes at Notre Dame next door and majored in Music Education.
 
After teaching for 2 years, Cathy worked for Chesterwye Center for 20 years, first starting out as a Service Coordinator and rose to the position of the Executive Director for the last 5 years. And yes, Cathy took her guitar into the Center at the holidays to sing Christmas carols!
 
During this time, Cathy was also working with a youth choir at Our Mother of Sorrows. They practiced after Religious Education and lead the singing once a month for Mass, and at Christmas and Easter.
 
It was after Fr. Mark Kelleher became the pastor that Cathy became the Music Director. One of the most important needs was someone to play the music on the keyboard. Although she had not played the piano much over the past 10 years God had other plans!
 
Enjoy, praise and give thanks. Make a joyful noise! Sing, and God will raise it up to
join with all the angels and saints. Sing of the Lord’s Goodness always.