Catherine Ann (Pekoch) Moresco-Schimpeler
Obituary
Catherine "Cathy" transitioned peacefully the morning of September 25th in the home she loved. She was 92. Born on October 18, 1930 in Watsonville to George and Marie (Bachan) Pekoch, Cathy was the eldest of 3 sisters.
As both of her parents were born in Croatia, Cathy's first language was Croatian, which she remained fluent in throughout her life. She cherished her ties to her heritage and relationships with her friends and family abroad.
Cathy attended Moreland Notre Dame and Watsonville High School, and married James Louis Moresco in 1950. They had three children, Christine Marie McGrath (Gene), James Richard Moresco (Jane) and Jeffrey Stephen Moresco.
Full of energy, Catherine was happiest when busy. She served on the Board of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association, and was a member of the Slavic American Cultural Association and the Young Ladies Institute. She was well-traveled, a wonderful cook, a professional bargain hunter, an exercise enthusiast and had more friends than her family could count. She enjoyed spending as much time outside of her home as she did hosting family and friends within it.
She is survived by her three children; a son-in-law and daughter-in-law; her two sisters: Ruth (James) Rosewall and Judith Stene; five grandchildren: Mia (John) Navarro, Michael (Jessica) McGrath, Megan (Nelson) Barros, Emily Moresco and John McGrath; 7 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her grandson Gregory, her husband of 53 years James, and her husband of 12 years Henry Schimpeler.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to her caregivers Dolores Baez, Guadalupe Hernandez, Michelle Trejo, Kristy Bertone, Maria Bettencourt, Lesly Robles and Stephanie Solis, and the staff at Wesley House and Hospice of Santa Cruz who saw her through the final phase of her life with tremendous love and care.
A funeral mass and burial will be held on Tuesday, October 10 at 10:00 am at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Watsonville. Donations to the Greg Moresco Scholarship Fund at St. Francis High School in Watsonville are graciously welcomed.
Published in The Pajaronian · September 28, 2023