She was born Aug. 19, 1947, in Old Orchard Beach, the daughter of Howard Duffy and Laura Higgins. After losing her father at the very young age of 6, she and her mother, Laura, moved to Huntington Beach, California, where she learned to surf, dance and cherished her friendship with B.D. Davis.
Catherine later returned to Maine to graduate from Old Orchard Beach High School in the Class of 1965. She then continued her education in Boston at the Chandler School for Women.
Shortly after leaving college, she and her husband, Dennis Petit started a family. As much as Catherine enjoyed being a mother and wife, it was inevitable she was going to will her way back to head up the Old Orchard Beach Pier and its restoration project after the famous “Blizzard of ‘78.”
Once this historic landmark was given new life and rejuvenated the town, Catherine was elected to the Board of Directors of the Maine Tourism Association and was voted by the Portland Magazine as “One of the 10 Most Intriguing People” in the 1980s. Catherine had many other business endeavors throughout York County that she was impassioned about.
Catherine was an incredible caregiver to her devoted mother, Laura, until her passing in 1988. Her magnetic personality was felt from Boston to Bangor.
Before her passing, one of her greatest joys came when she was able to reconnect with her grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Noah. Her pride in their character and accomplishments had no bounds.
Catherine was preceded in death by: her father, Howard; her devoted mother, Laura; as well as her husband, Dennis.
Surviving are: her daughter, Loren Cimenian and her husband, Nahabet of Kennebunk; her son, Matthew Petit and his significant other, Mia Riccardi-Toback of Bradley Beach, New Jersey; and her grandchildren, Kaitlyn Laura and Noah Garabed Cimenian.
Visiting hours will be 5-7 p.m. on Monday, March 6, 2017, at Dennett Craig Pate Funeral Home 365 Main St., Saco, ME 04072. Catherine will be laid to rest at Laurel Hill Cemetery next to her mother and husband to rest in peace on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
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