Katherine M. Donahue

Katherine "Cass" Margaret (Busch) Donahue passed away peacefully of natural causes on 7-7-14 at the age of 97. She was predeceased by her husband Richard F. Donahue Sr.

Katherine was born in Philadelphia, on October 28, 1916, and was the daughter of the late Charles F. Busch and Josephine A. (Ostertag) Busch. She was a member of Sacred Heart R. C. Church for over 70 years.

She graduated from Wyomissing High School in 1935, married Richard in 1939 and was widowed in 1965. Richard and Katherine spent their lives in Wyomissing raising six children. They were known in the community as Chubby and Cass and were active in various activities.

After Richard's death, Cass was the physical education teacher at Holy Name High School also coaching girls basketball, track, field hockey and cheerleading from 1965 to 1970. Katherine was employed by Berkshire Knitting Mills and Vanity Fair from 1970 until 1982.

Cass won numerous track, swimming, diving and tennis titles through the years and represented Berks County as a master swimmer and racquetball competitor at the senior games.

At Sacred Heart School, Cass coached boys and girls baseball, softball and CYO track. She was a group leader for Camp Fire girls, and past president of St. Joseph's Hospital ladies auxiliary. She was formally inducted into the Holy Name High School Athletic Hall of Fame on September 15, 2007.

Cass was co-chairman of the Wyomissing Bi-centennial celebration in 1976.

Katherine is survived by all six children, Richard F. Donahue Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale , FL, Katherine A. Donahue, Patrick H. (Judith) Donahue and John J. (Anna Marie) Donahue all of Wyomissing, Rosemary B. (Donahue) Conley, wife of Samuel Conley of Wernersville, and Michael C. (Cynthia) Donahue of Reading. There are also 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren and their families: Debbie and Todd Bater and children Katie, Devan and Taylor of Atlanta, GA; Pat and Betsy Donahue and children Patrick, Brianna and Meghan of Wyomissing; Colleen Conrad and children Jesse and Jordan of Sinking Spring; Eric and Nicole Donahue and children Roman, Samantha and Lidia of Wyomissing; Sean and Mandi Donahue and children Avery and Natalie of Harleysville; Bradley Donahue of New York; and Jason and Justyna Conley and son Brandon of Oceanside, CA.

Her brother Charles G. Busch and sister-in-law Clare (Donahue) Flannery and family friend Sam Franklin survive her. There are also many nieces and nephews who will miss "Aunt Katherine".

Cass was predeceased by sisters Josephine M. (Busch) Herr and Bertha Louise (Busch) Heckler, and family friend Jesse Brumbach.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, 7-14-14 at 10:30 am in Sacred Heart R. C. Church. Viewing will be Monday from 8:00 to 10:00am in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Berks Catholic (formerly Holy Name) High School, 955 East Wyomissing Boulevard, Reading, PA 19611 towards Saints General Fund for Athletics.