RACINE - Wednesday, January 4th, a beautifully sunny but frigid day, Catherine Sweet peacefully left her earthly home. She left with a faint smile of recognition that she would be reunited with her loved ones that left before her.Catherine was born in Racine, WI on September 8, 1930 to Vincent and Stephina Wasiak. On August 11, 1951 she was united in marriage to Lyle A. Sweet at Trinity Lutheran Church in Racine WI. Lyle preceded her in death on October 8, 2014.Along with her parents, preceding her in death are her sisters a brother and their spouses. Sophie Ziolkowska, Mary (Stanley) Lesnik, Stella (Marvin) Foster, Jennie (Bill) Jensen and Bernice (Steve) Blagec a brother Benny (Ruth) Ziolkowski and granddaughter, Julie (Wilson) Hildebrand. She is also preceded by in-laws, Frank and Agnes Sweet, Lenora (Walter) Voll, Harold (Bernita) Sweet, Charlotte (Melvin) Hurtienne, Frank (Jan) Sweet and Vangie (Norman) Winther.Catherine is survived by her four children and their respective families. Daughter, Donna (Roger) Wilson and their daughters Brenda (Neal) Gehin, Debra (Chris) Mussehl, Melissa Lantz, son-in-law Neil Hildebrand and their families. Son, Thomas (Cheryl) Sweet their sons Dave (Heather), Robert and Scott and families. Daughter, Terry (Jim) Baker. Son, David (Anna) and his daughter Allison (Tony) Howell and family.She is further survived by a sister, Josephine Ziolkowska, a brother, Ted (Jean) Wasiak, former sister-in-law Jackie Wasiak and by many nieces and nephews along with her very dear childhood friend Alice (Bowman) Hudak. As a young woman, Catherine worked at Western Publishing Company and the Wisconsin Telephone Company. She enjoyed going to dances with her sisters and friends. Upon marriage, she was a stay at home mom cooking, cleaning and taking care of her husband and children. She became involved as a Den Mother when sons Tom and David were in Boy Scouts and with the Girl Scouts when Terry was a Brownie. She also volunteered as a Room Mother when her children were at Jerstad-Agerholm Elementary School. With her children grown, Catherine went to work at Warren Publishing. But then decided she'd rather donate her time and energies to volunteering at the Lutheran High Thrift Shop on Douglas Ave and joined with her sister, Stella, in volunteering with the Tex Reynolds Toys for Tots program.Catherine loved to walk and while walking took great pleasure in finding lost money. All of which she would equally distribute between her grandchildren's and eventually great grandchildren's piggy banks. This, over the years added up to a tidy sum. She was also known to collect soda and beer cans which she turned into cash for the former Orphan Kanine organization.Mom was a pretty darn good cook, baker and all around homemaker. While she tried her hand at knitting a sweater for Dad. It wasn't a success. However, the TV slippers she knitted for her sister Josephine were a hit. She looked forward to spending time with her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren being a sideline cheerleader at many of their sporting events. She enjoyed reading, caring for her dogs and finding a good rummage sale to peruse. Mom didn't often vocally express her emotions. They were shown though her caring actions and attention. She loved and was loved.Catherine was a child of the depression. An era of people who were tough, who made do with less or little. That appreciated quality over quantity. That saved for the things they wanted. That believed in the bonds of family and of country.Funeral services for Catherine will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 1:00 pm. Relatives and friend are invited to meet with the family at the funeral home on Thursday from 11:00 am until the time of the service at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation, in Catherine's name, to a Veteran's organization, a local animal shelter or the Activities Department (for music programs) at Franciscan Villa 3601 S. Chicago Rd, South Milwaukee, WI 53172. Our family would like to thank Dr. Mark DeCheck and his staff for the care and concern they provided to our Parents over the years. We know it wasn't always easy. To the staff at Franciscan Villa, thank you for taking our Mother under your wing. We don't know what we would have done without you. And to VITAS, your presence during Mom's final hours was a comfort to us.