Catherine Eklund
March 31, 1947 — March 20, 2011
PHILLIPSTON – Catherine A. (Habershaw) Eklund, 63, of 180 Baldwinville Road, Phillipston, died peacefully Sunday, March 20th in Baldwinville Nursing Home, Baldwinville, with her family at her side, after an eight year battle with cancer.
She was born in Providence, Rhode Island on March 31, 1947, the daughter of the late Robert and Irene (Hall) Habershaw and had lived in Phillipston for 43 years.
Cathy attended St. Mary’s School in Attleboro, MA and graduated from Barre High School in 1965. In 1966, she graduated from David Hale Fanning Trade School with a degree in cosmetology. Cathy worked at Imperial House of Beauty in Worcester until the birth of her children. She also worked at Worcester County Bank for a few years until she dedicated her time fully to motherhood.
Cathy was a mother and friend to her five children and she became a surrogate mother to hundreds of area children through the day care, which she ran from her home. She became deeply involved in Boy Scouts with all of her four boys, holding the position of chairman and committee member for over 20 years. She was a member of Holy Cross Church in East Templeton since 1968. She found her greatest enjoyment coming from time spent with her family and grandchildren. She also enjoyed gardening.
Cathy was active with the Town of Phillipston, working as a dispatcher for the Town of Phillipston Police and Fire Department, as well as the Highway Department. She was also an election worker and later became Tax Collector for a few years before becoming Assistant Town Clerk, She received an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Mt. Wachusett Community College, Gardner in 2003. Catherine was also a member of the Red Hat Society of Phillipston and the Rosary Sodality of Holy Cross Church.
She leaves her husband of 42 years, John A. Eklund; five children, Ann-Marie Geyster and her husband Rick of Phillipston, John Michael Eklund and his wife Dawn of Fitzwilliam, NH, David F. Eklund and his wife Rebecca of Orange, Erik S. Eklund and his wife Akiko of Brighton and Daniel R. Eklund and his companion Liticia Haynes of Phillipston; seven grandchildren, Jillian, Jordan, Joshua, Jacob, Autumn, Liana and Haley; one sister, Mary Ann Gleezen of Minot, Maine; two brothers, Peter Habershaw of Chaumont, NY and Charles Habershaw of Athol and several nephews and nieces. A sister, Susan Root, predeceased her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 26 th at 10 A.M. in Holy Cross Church, Lake Avenue, East Templeton.
Calling hours in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon will be Friday, March 25 th from 6 to 8 P.M.
Burial will be in Lower Cemetery, Phillipston in the spring.
Memorial donations may be made to Gardner Visiting Nursing Association Hospice, 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440 or to Town of Phillipston Fire Department, 90 State Road, Phillipston, MA. 01331.