Obituary for Catherine Maling "Cathy" Surran
On Saturday, November 12, 2022, the heavens opened their gates as Catherine ‘Cathy’ Maling Surran passed through with the support of her family here on Earth by her side and the support of her family above guiding her. Blessed are those who were able to hold her hand and say goodbye as she transitioned to her next adventure surrounded by love.
Cathy Surran was born September 15, 1948, in Biddeford, Maine to her parents, Lowell and Phyllis (Jones) Maling. She was the light of their eye and to her grandparents George and Ruby (Rose) Maling and Luther and Ruby (Drown) Jones. Cathy spoke fondly of her grandparents and the fun times they had together, such as growing up the granddaughter of the local sheriff and being able to attend events at the Alfred jail, golfing, and vacations to Florida. A highlight was a gift from her grandfather, George, to see the Beatles perform in Boston. Her grandparents and parents have previously passed, and they are now home together.
Attending local Kennebunk schools, Cathy was active as a majorette, dancer and a great swimmer, practicing on swim teams in Florida and Portland Maine. She was able to attend school with many cousins and they share numerous memories of this special time together.
Moving to Fortune’s Rocks, Cathy attended Biddeford High School and graduated in 1966. Cathy had two children, Michael & Lori Sukalas, while living close to her parents and grandparents at the beach. This time was filled with beachside family gatherings and at one point, running a hot dog stand at the beach with Betty White as a frequent customer.
Cathy and her husband, Michael Surran, had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July 2022. They were blessed with 5 more children: Bethany (Moulton), Ryan, Christopher, Craig and Chelsea. Now a mother to 7 children, Cathy was thrilled to be mother first and ensured all her children were able to pursue their dreams and find their best selves. Family adventures included trips to Florida, summers camping at Sebago Lake, amusement parks and fairs. Both her and her husband attended many of their children’s school events including sports, plays and anything that they were involved in. Always on the sidelines cheering. Always children’s interests first.
Later in life, Cathy and Mike moved to Florida, living in both St. Petersburg and Venice, and ended up in El Paso, Texas where they settled close to their son's families and enjoyed the extended family and events. Even through all this travel, Cathy considered Maine home and will be buried next to her parents and grandparents in Hope Cemetery in Kennebunk, Maine. A private graveside service will be held Spring, 2023.
Mike and Cathy lived a life filled with adventure and as their children grew, grandchildren became their focus. As good grandparents do, all were loved equally, and all were able to feel attended and loved by Mike and Cathy fully. Nine grandchildren today deeply miss their Nana: Alexis (Howard), Elizabeth (Sukalas), Evan (Sukalas), Fiona (Moulton), Willow (Moulton), Lillith (Surran), Emelia (Surran), Dimitri (Surran), and Marisa (Surran).
Cathy is known for her kindness, her sense of humor and her ability to offer worthy advice to those who asked. She enjoyed her daily conversations with her former sister-in-law and best friend, Holly McIntyre (Sukalas), as well as her children, their spouses, friends, and her cousins. It will be hard not seeing her name pop up on the phone. Please everyone, remember to answer those calls from your loved ones! Cathy, a business school graduate, also loved the medical field and proudly graduated as a surgery technician all while parenting 5 children at the same time. In true Cathy fashion, not one of her children would say they felt less attended to during her studies and that demonstrates the talent she always had: the ability to take care of others first. She later worked for the York County Head Start program and put in countless hours ensuring local children had their needs met while also attending to her own growing family.
As her children grew, Cathy was able to devote time to her personal joys: knitting, embroidery, dots crafts, plants & gardening, collecting traditional recipes and specialty Maling glassware, shopping for her grandchildren and spoiling her pets. Cathy always enjoyed animals and her household was never without. Her love of her dogs, Tweeter, Jo-Jo and Twiggy, brought her great joy and they were always present whether in the RV, long drives or at family gatherings. Yes, you may have even seen them riding on the back of Mike and Cathy’s motorcycle as well! The long and enduring love Cathy showed to her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family will be missed but have left an indelible mark on all. Forever grateful for the opportunity to be in her life and she will never be forgotten.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, December 9th at 4:30 pm at Kennebunkport Conservation Trust located at 57 Gravelly Brook Rd, Kennebunkport, ME 04046. Family will be providing food and beverage and a space to celebrate the amazing life of Cathy Surran.
Cathy Surran was born September 15, 1948, in Biddeford, Maine to her parents, Lowell and Phyllis (Jones) Maling. She was the light of their eye and to her grandparents George and Ruby (Rose) Maling and Luther and Ruby (Drown) Jones. Cathy spoke fondly of her grandparents and the fun times they had together, such as growing up the granddaughter of the local sheriff and being able to attend events at the Alfred jail, golfing, and vacations to Florida. A highlight was a gift from her grandfather, George, to see the Beatles perform in Boston. Her grandparents and parents have previously passed, and they are now home together.
Attending local Kennebunk schools, Cathy was active as a majorette, dancer and a great swimmer, practicing on swim teams in Florida and Portland Maine. She was able to attend school with many cousins and they share numerous memories of this special time together.
Moving to Fortune’s Rocks, Cathy attended Biddeford High School and graduated in 1966. Cathy had two children, Michael & Lori Sukalas, while living close to her parents and grandparents at the beach. This time was filled with beachside family gatherings and at one point, running a hot dog stand at the beach with Betty White as a frequent customer.
Cathy and her husband, Michael Surran, had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July 2022. They were blessed with 5 more children: Bethany (Moulton), Ryan, Christopher, Craig and Chelsea. Now a mother to 7 children, Cathy was thrilled to be mother first and ensured all her children were able to pursue their dreams and find their best selves. Family adventures included trips to Florida, summers camping at Sebago Lake, amusement parks and fairs. Both her and her husband attended many of their children’s school events including sports, plays and anything that they were involved in. Always on the sidelines cheering. Always children’s interests first.
Later in life, Cathy and Mike moved to Florida, living in both St. Petersburg and Venice, and ended up in El Paso, Texas where they settled close to their son's families and enjoyed the extended family and events. Even through all this travel, Cathy considered Maine home and will be buried next to her parents and grandparents in Hope Cemetery in Kennebunk, Maine. A private graveside service will be held Spring, 2023.
Mike and Cathy lived a life filled with adventure and as their children grew, grandchildren became their focus. As good grandparents do, all were loved equally, and all were able to feel attended and loved by Mike and Cathy fully. Nine grandchildren today deeply miss their Nana: Alexis (Howard), Elizabeth (Sukalas), Evan (Sukalas), Fiona (Moulton), Willow (Moulton), Lillith (Surran), Emelia (Surran), Dimitri (Surran), and Marisa (Surran).
Cathy is known for her kindness, her sense of humor and her ability to offer worthy advice to those who asked. She enjoyed her daily conversations with her former sister-in-law and best friend, Holly McIntyre (Sukalas), as well as her children, their spouses, friends, and her cousins. It will be hard not seeing her name pop up on the phone. Please everyone, remember to answer those calls from your loved ones! Cathy, a business school graduate, also loved the medical field and proudly graduated as a surgery technician all while parenting 5 children at the same time. In true Cathy fashion, not one of her children would say they felt less attended to during her studies and that demonstrates the talent she always had: the ability to take care of others first. She later worked for the York County Head Start program and put in countless hours ensuring local children had their needs met while also attending to her own growing family.
As her children grew, Cathy was able to devote time to her personal joys: knitting, embroidery, dots crafts, plants & gardening, collecting traditional recipes and specialty Maling glassware, shopping for her grandchildren and spoiling her pets. Cathy always enjoyed animals and her household was never without. Her love of her dogs, Tweeter, Jo-Jo and Twiggy, brought her great joy and they were always present whether in the RV, long drives or at family gatherings. Yes, you may have even seen them riding on the back of Mike and Cathy’s motorcycle as well! The long and enduring love Cathy showed to her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family will be missed but have left an indelible mark on all. Forever grateful for the opportunity to be in her life and she will never be forgotten.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, December 9th at 4:30 pm at Kennebunkport Conservation Trust located at 57 Gravelly Brook Rd, Kennebunkport, ME 04046. Family will be providing food and beverage and a space to celebrate the amazing life of Cathy Surran.