Catherine Test

Catherine Test, 103, of Punxsutawney, passed away on February 3, 2017, at her daughter’s home in Waterville, Ohio, surrounded by loving family.

Catherine was born on February 1, 1914, in Anita, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Wesdock.

She married Michael Test in 1937; he preceded her in death in 1972. Michael was a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II.

In 1929, Catherine graduated from Anita High School, which held courses through the tenth grade. She moved to Indiana, PA, to finish her high school degree, and graduated from Indiana High School in 1931.

Before her marriage, she worked in a variety of restaurants in Indiana and Punxsutawney. She later was employed by Pramco Company as a seamstress. After her husband’s death, she worked as an inheritance tax clerk for the Department of State Revenue until her retirement in 1982.

Catherine was a much beloved mother, grandmother, and aunt who lived a life full of family, faith, and community engagement. She lived for over 78 years in the house that she and her husband built on North Main Street in Punxsutawney. She was a parishioner of Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, where she was very active in the Ladies Guild. Catherine took on leadership roles in a variety of community organizations, including serving as an officer and longtime member of the Punxsutawney Democrat Club, vice president and member of the Catholic Daughters of America (S.S.C.D. chapter), and longstanding volunteer with the Red Cross Bloodmobile.

Of special significance to her was her service to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62, which she joined in 1972. She served as president of the unit for fourteen years, leading the effort to establish an ongoing scholarship fund that provides annual educational support for the daughter of a U.S. veteran. Her many contributions to the community were recognized when she was honored as Punxsutawney’s 2013 Woman of the Year at the 2014 Groundhog Eve Banquet, held on her 100th birthday.

In addition to her work and community service, Catherine was an active person with a number of hobbies including crocheting, sewing, cake decorating, painting, and cooking, especially Slovak favorites. Family history was very important to her; she helped to establish the Wesdock family reunions, which have been ongoing for over forty years, and she enjoyed sharing stories of her Slovak family heritage and her childhood in Anita.

She was a good Samaritan to the countless numbers of cats that found their way across the decades to her North Main Street back porch and enjoyed the companionship of her dog, Crackers, for many years. She had a generous and giving character and was beloved by her family and friends who will miss her dearly.

She is survived by her two children, Leonard Test of Punxsutawney and Eileen Test Dollard and husband Jerry of Waterville, OH; grandchildren, Tonia Test of Flagler Beach, FL, Lynne Dollard Mowery and husband Jeff of Herndon, VA, Catherine Dollard Burczak and husband Ted of Granville, OH, and Jerry Dollard, Jr., of Waterville; and great-grandsons Michael Bradford, Sean Mowery, Ryan Mowery, Jack Burczak, and George Burczak, and many nieces and nephews, and grand- and great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Kovalyak and Ann Wolfe, her brothers Michael Wesdock and George Weisdock, and her granddaughter Jessie June Test.

Friends and family will be received at Richard L. Fait Funeral Home, Punxsutawney, on Friday, February 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., with Parastas (Prayer Vigil) service to follow at 8 pm on Friday.

A Funeral of Divine Liturgy will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 11, at Saints Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church.

Catherine will be interred at Calvary Cemetery in Punxsutawney.

Gifts in Catherine’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.

Online condolences can be made at www.faitfuneralhome.com