Catherine H. Haggerty

Rotterdam – Catherine H. Haggerty, 79, was welcomed into heaven Sunday March 16, 2025. Born in Schenectady, she was the daughter of Frank & Helen (Pfaffenbach) Ferraro. A lifelong Schenectady resident, Catherine graduated from Mont Pleasant High School, and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from SUNY Plattsburgh. Her teaching career began at Jefferson Elementary School in Rotterdam where one of her colleagues shared how “children adored her, and other teachers respected her for her patience, kindness, and brilliant innovative spirit.”

After the birth of her long-awaited son Patrick, Cathy left teaching to be a stay at-home mom. She brought joy and warmth to her home, her neighborhood, and to all her nieces and nephews. Catherine was a very hard-working, dedicated mother and homemaker, managing to work part time in real estate for Realty USA. As the years passed, the call to be in the classroom sent her back to school to earn an Occupational Therapy Degree from Maria College, and worked with special needs children at Farnsworth Middle School for many years.

Among Cathy’s interests, she loved the game of golf, and as a young woman was involved in multiple golf leagues in Schenectady and Colonie. Golf is how she met her husband, Bob Haggerty Jr., who was the golf pro at Schenectady MUNY for 4 decades until he passed away in 2006.

Cathy had a big heart and loved everyone she came in contact with. She had so much love for all of us, and had a huge impact on her family, friends, and throughout her community. She leaves an example to follow of authentic Christianity. She had a servant’s heart, never complained, and was always helping in one way or another whether at school, church, in the community, or at holiday tables in friends and family homes.

She was a teacher eager to share her knowledge, especially of local history, and was a student always eager to learn. Cathy was an excellent cook and made holidays special with all the delicious dishes she prepared. She enjoyed playing cards with her close friends and adored all the new babies welcomed into her family.

She leaves behind her sisters, Barbara (LeRoy) Bergeron of Austin, Texas, Janet (Joseph) Mastroianni of Schenectady, her cousin Carol Ann Renna of Schenectady who was like a sister to Cathy, her brother Frank (Freda Mullinax) Ferraro of Greenville, South Carolina, and several nieces and nephews. Cathy is also survived by her brother-in-law Tom Haggerty of Glens Falls and sister-in-law Eileen Ottati of Schenectady. Along with her parents and husband she was predeceased by her sister-in-law Margaret Ferraro.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday April 5, 2025 at 10 am at St. Joseph’s Church, 600 State St., Schenectady, NY.

Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 100 Kings Rd., Schenectady NY

At Catherine’s request, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the following organizations

St. Joseph’s Place 837 Albany St., Schenectady, NY 12307 or The City Mission 425 Hamilton St., Schenectady, NY 12305

Online condolences may be made at demarcostonefueralhome.com