Catherine L. Beam, 83, of Elkhart, died on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at The Hearth at Juday Creek in Granger, IN.

Catherine was born August 25, 1935 in Monongahela, PA to the late Constantine and Mary Agnes (Yurich) Zwastetzky.

As Catherine Zwastetzky, she married Ralph W. Beam Sr. on April 12, 1954 in Maryland.  He died September 20, 2017.  Surviving are three daughters: Mary (Jerry) Wolfinger of Osceola; Patrice (Paul) Modlin of Wakarusa; Pamela (Jim) Peterson of Elkhart: four sons; Ralph (Kay) Beam Jr. of Mishawaka; Robert Beam of Indianapolis; Richard (Connie) Beam and William Beam, both of Elkhart.  Also surviving are sixteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, one brother, Joseph (Jean) Zwastetzky of Export, PA; four sisters, Margie Codispoti of Brentwood, PA; Irene Gallagher of McKeesport, PA; Ann (Ronald) Rabon of Green Cove Springs, FL and Mary Agnes Cauley of Pittsburgh, PA.

Catherine, being a people person, spent her career in retail.  She worked as the retail manager for Estee Lauder cosmetics in Robertson's (and eventually Elder Beerman) at the Concord Mall.   She also was an Avon sales representative.  While Catherine love her work, she especially loved her family and her church.  She was an active member of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church where she sang in the choir, was a lector and a member of the funeral luncheon committee.  She also sang in the choir at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and was a member of the Questers Antique Study Group.  Blessed with a beautiful soprano voice, she was also very active with the Elkhart Symphony Chorus, Matinee Musicale, the Goshen Community Chorale and the Elkhart Civic Theatre.  Catherine also enjoyed decorating for Christmas, was an avid reader and was an animal lover.

Visitation for Catherine will be Wednesday, November 14th from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 15th at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.  The Rev. Matthew Coonan will officiate and entombment will be in the Faith Mausoleum at Rice Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Catherine may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society 520 Crescent Ave. South Bend, IN 46617.

Online condolences may be sent at  www.hartzlergutermuthinman.com.

St. Vincent de Paul Society
520 Crescent Ave., South Bend IN 46617