Amborn, Catherine Genevieve

Catherine Genevieve Amborn, 88, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Fort Madison, passed away Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, at All Saints Church, with the Rev. David O'Connor officiating. A graveside service will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Fort Madison at 1:30 p.m. The family will greet friends afterward at The Ivy Bake Shoppe from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Catherine is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Catherine and Martin Roach of Cedar Rapids, Margaret and Edward Dull of McKinney, Texas, and Nancy and Frank Lochner of Marion; 11 grandchildren, Heather (Homi) Variava, Shannon Amborn, Jeff Roach, Maggie (Scooter) Vineburgh, Abby (Richard) Urban, Christi (Randy) Fox, Carrie (Jason) Hirons, Jonathan (Megan) Amborn, Courtney (Treba) Henderson, Sarah (Joe) Lopez and Kathleen Cobb; 16 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Montana, Victoria, James, Joey, Tommy, Andy, Adam, Ashton, Avery, Jay, Landon, Donovan, Berkeley and Dylan; a sister-in-law, Maxine Amborn; and several nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by John, her husband of 61 years; her son, Rob; her parents; her sisters, Rose and Marie; her brothers, Carl and George; and her great-granddaughter, Kaley Grace.

Catherine was born July 11, 1923, in Fort Madison, the daughter of Rose Josephine (Boll) and Henry Bernard Gockel.She graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1941.On June 29, 1943, she married her high school sweetheart, John Amborn.

Catherine worked as an oil colorist in her husband's photography studio in Fort Madison. She then worked as a secretary for Chevron Chemical Co. before opening her first gift shop, Gaslight Alley, in 1968. In 1981, Catherine and her husband moved to Cedar Rapids, where they opened Gaslight Alley Gifts on Mount Vernon Road. They were members of All Saints Church.

A devoted wife and mother, Catherine had an innate sense of color and design. She became known for her floral arrangements and beautiful packages. Catherine had a sense of imagination and the ability to turn the ordinary into something special.

Many will remember the twinkle in her eye, her mischievous smile and the love of a little joke.

Catherine was always grateful for her nice, cozy home and good food to eat.With that in mind, memorial donations may be made to Greene Square Meals, 605 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; and Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity, 350 Sixth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.

Please leave a message or tribute to the family on the Web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published April 23, 2012 in The Gazette