Catherine Cecelia Somerville, 78, of Loveville, MD, died on Friday, July 2, 2004 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, MD.

Born on May 18, 1926 in Loveville, MD, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Dellie and Susie Frederick Somerville. Catherine was an extraordinary child and an exceptional student. She graduated from Banneker at the top of her class with the intensions of pursuing a career in nursing. But, due to the family’s finances, she worked at the naval base and in homes of professionals in Pennsylvania as a nanny and a housekeeper. However, because of her love for learning she continued to take adult education classes in typing, office aid, and even carpentry. She could sew and tailor gowns, coats and dresses for all occasions. Her skills and interest were unlimited.

On January 10, 1948 she married Joseph Blain Somerville. The two resided in Maryland where Catherine worked as a restaurant chef at Alex’s Bar in Leonardtown. She loved to cook and she made sure that those who tasted her cooking soon loved to eat. Her fried chicken, turkey salad, potato salad, crab imperial and apple-betty were enjoyed and praised by all. Occasionally she would cater large events and became well known for her delectable delights. The union of Catherine and Blain produced seven children: Leonidas Ralph, Joseph Blaine Jr., Ugertha Catherine, Elaine Cecelia, Andrea Delores, Douglas Frederick and Lorraine Annette Somerville. Both Catherine and Blain loved and took great pride in their children. They were caring, loving, sacrificing and extremely proud parents. There seemed to be no life better or love deeper than between the two and that love spread throughout the family. After 13 years of marriage, Catherine’s life suddenly met a tragic change. Blain died at the age of 39, leaving her to care for seven young children, who ranged in age from 12 years down to 4 years old. Catherine persevered with the constant help of her brothers and sisters. She never complained or thought about giving up. To support her family she became a bus contractor for the St. Mary’s County Public School System, and drove the bus for 19 of the 46 years she was a contractor. She knew many of the school children and their families and enjoyed seeing them grow and develop. During her later life and illness, she was often approached by former students who reminded her how much she was appreciated and respected.

Her faith in God and dedication to teaching others about God was very important to her. She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She taught catechism (CCD) for many years, and was often known to use her bus to pick up students who did not have transportation to and from church and catechism. She attended Mass and prayed the rosary daily. Even later in life when illness made it difficult for her to get out of bed, she found the strength to attend Sunday Mass. This past Christmas she took great pride in buying all her grandchildren a Bible with the simple inscription “read at least 5 minutes each day. Love, Grandma.” Her life, her words and her actions exuded her deep belief in her faith. Catherine was involved in several charitable organizations including the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Sierra Club and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. She worked with the St. Vincent DePaul members to distribute food and shoe vouchers to those needing assistance in the community. She cooked from her home the first Thursday of each month for the Hughesville Angel Watch Homeless Shelter. Her home was always opened to family, friends and anyone who needed support of any kind. Catherine always made her family proud and was loved dearly and honored as a hero by her children and “superwoman” by her grandchildren. She was admired for her strength. Throughout her life she always encouraged dignity in self, honesty, loyalty, and the respect of others. She lived a life of courage and selflessness and spread those emotions to everyone in her life. She loved people and she loved attention. She loved to talk on the telephone. During her illness, her children strived to return the love and support that she had given them throughout their life. She will be dearly missed but an abundance of her love, memories and teachings will remain.

She was preceded in death by three of her seven children; Leonidas, Andrea and Lorraine; five siblings, Joseph William Somerville, Doris Agnes Scriber, Laura Thompson Gray, Frederick Rudolph Somerville and David Eugene Somerville.

She leaves to mourn four children; Joseph Blaine Somerville and his wife Charlotte, Ugertha Whatley and her husband Ronald, Elaine Yates and her husband Steven and Douglas Somerville and his wife Gale; four siblings, Helen Somerville Harris, James Andrew Somerville, John Walter Somerville and Susie Lorretta Collins; one uncle George Purnell Frederick, Sr. and his wife Rita; three aunts, Henrietta Young, Catherine Jordan and her husband Edward and Agnes Barber; five sisters-in-law, Hariett, Helen, Audrey, Grace and Evelina, one brother-in-law, Joseph Spencer Scriber, Sr.; fifteen grandchildren, Apryl, Blaine, Karla, Anjuan, Angel, Damien, Wayne, Shahza, Brandalin, Kelly, Leah, Janelle, Benson and Evander and six Great grandchildren, Catherine also leaves a loving family of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family received friends on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Morganza, MD. Prayers were recited at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church. The Reverend Keith Woods will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen, MD.

Serving as pallbearers will be Glen Thompson, Douglas Somerville, Jr., Fred Johnson, Andre Miller, Mark Somerville and Keith Somerville.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.