Catherine "Cath" Parrish Van Natta, 72, of Bradenton, Florida, formerly of Watseka passed away on Monday, November 6, 2023 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida. She was born on June 26, 1951 in South Bend, Indiana, a daughter of Winston and Marjorie (Parrish) Sack and sister of Mary (Sack) Ruff. Cathi married James "Jim" R. Van Natta on January 7, 1972 in Honolulu, Hawaii and he preceded her in death on May 11, 2023.
Surviving are three sons, Matthew (Christy) Van Natta of Portland, Oregon, Neil Van Natta of Urbana, and Aaron (Kelsey Graber) Van Natta of Champaign; her loving granddaughter, Freyja Van Natta of Portland, Oregon; and nephew, Kirk Ruff of Tucson, Arizona.
Cath was born and raised in South Bend, IN but also spent some of her childhood in Rensselaer, IN before attending Valparaiso University for one year.
Cath was an avid supporter of the arts, especially music. She loved the Beatles and saw them at the Indiana State Fair in 1964. She played the French horn, like her father before her, and two of her sons, Matthew and Neil after her. She happily spent many years attending band concerts and traveling to drum and bugle corps competitions across the country, with Jim and Aaron in tow.
For years she volunteered at the Red Cross.
Cath loved to travel and spend time with her vast group of friends, recently taking a trip to Quebec City and hosting girlfriends at her home in Florida. She most looked forward to her trips to visit her sons in New York City, San Diego, and especially Portland so she could spend time with her granddaughter, Freyja.
She worked alongside her husband at Quality Supermarket, their family owned grocery store, for 15 years before retiring with Jim in 2013.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at the Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka. Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 17, 2023 at the Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka with Pastor Jim Harkins officiating. A private burial will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Watseka Public Library or the Unit 9 Academic Foundation to be directed to the Music Departments and Band.
Please share a memory of Cath at www.knappfuneralhomes.com.
