Marie “Irene” (Bousquet) Cataldo age 89, of Brockton, died Saturday January 19, 2013 at the home of her daughter surrounded by her loving family. She was the devoted wife of the late Dominic “Doc” Cataldo for 60 years. Marie was born in Montreal, Canada a daughter of the late Henry and Delia (LaPlante) Bousquet and had lived in Brockton since the age of three. For the last three years she had made her home with her daughter Marcy Lincoln and her husband Charlie in Middleboro.
Marie was a 1941 graduate of Brockton High School and following graduation worked at Washburn Candy and the Doyle shoe factory in Brockton. The majority of her career was spent as an engineer’s assistant with the Research and Development Division of Raytheon. She took great pride in being on the team that designed the first patriot missile. In her retirement she had also worked part time as a health aide for Catholic Charities.
Marie was very involved in many different activities. She loved reading, the theater and the arts. She enjoyed camping with her family on Race-Point Beach in Provincetown and bowling with the “Hi-los” in Randolph. She was also the past vice-president of the 643rd Tanker Battalion WW II reunions and attended their annual meetings for 55 years. She was also an advocate for both animals and women’s rights. During the 1940s while living in Austin, Texas she and the New England Army Wives, organized a protest against the discrimination of black army wives, who were not allowed to ride the buses on the Army bases. This was over fifteen years prior to the Freedom Marchers in the South.
Marie was the mother of Michele “Mickey” Tarentino and her husband Ralph of Middleboro; Marcelle “Marcy” Cataldo-Lincoln and her husband Charlie of Middleboro; Melissa Cataldo of Brockton; Stephen Cataldo and his wife Lynne of Raynham; Mark Cataldo and his wife Mary Ellen of Brockton and the late Christopher Cataldo husband of Susan of Huntington Beach, CA. She leaves 14 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Millie Rogers and Henry Bousquet, Jr.
Visiting hours will be held in the Conley Funeral Home 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton Thursday 4-7 pm with a Funeral Service at 7pm. All are welcomed to gather at the funeral home on Friday at 9:30 am for committal prayers in the funeral home at 10 am followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Please consider donations in Marie’s name to the MSPCA, 350 Huntington Ave. Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.