Astrid Elinora Linnea Anderson Cathey's Obituary
Astrid Elinora Linnea Anderson Cathey, 94, died peacefully under hospice care and in the loving presence of her husband Thursday, February 15, 2018. She was in the final stage of dementia.Astrid was born December 4, 1923 at home in Locust Valley, Long Island, NY, the second of two daughters born to Swedish immigrants, Hulda Johansson and Robert Adrian Anderson. She became a committed Christian as a teenager with the desire to be a missionary.During World War II, Astrid postponed attending college to support the war effort, working at Sperry (Gyroscope) Corporation. After the war, she pursued her BA in Christian Education at Bob Jones University where she met the love of her life, Gordon M. Cathey, who was studying to become a pastor.Astrid and Gordon were baptized at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church (C&MA) in Times Square, NYC just days before their wedding July 16, 1949 on Long Island. Together with her husband, Astrid faithfully served in church ministry with the C&MA beginning in Charlottesville, Virginia where she gave birth to her daughter, Carolyn Joy and her son Gordon Leland.Astrid and her husband served churches in Pennsylvania and New York. At the International Protestant Church in Saigon, Vietnam, she extended her special gift of hospitality to American servicemen during the war. Upon returning to the USA, she and her husband ministered in Kentucky. Following this pastorate, her husband served for some years in administration with the C&MA in NY and Astrid worked at World Relief Headquarters to find homes for Vietnamese refugees seeking asylum.During another pastorate in Maryland, Astrid developed a ministry for single parents and mentored younger women entering ministry. After retirement from full-time service, she and her husband completed interim pastorates in four churches. In 2002 they moved to Fort Myers to spend their retirement years at Shell Point Retirement Community where Astrid made new friends, renewed old friendships, led worship on the memory care unit, and was active in women’s ministry at the Village Church.Astrid was a natural artist, creative painter and clever seamstress who made her own wedding dress. She wrote personalized books for her grandchildren and enjoyed hand-written correspondence with loved ones. She had a contagious laugh. She was a kind, gentle, authentic Christian who dearly loved her Lord, her family, and her friends. All who knew her experienced her gentle love and in return she was loved by so many.She is survived by her faithful and devoted husband of 68 years; one daughter, Carolyn Castelli (Jay) of Mamaroneck, NY; one son, Gordon “Lee” Cathey of Silver Spring, MD; four grandchildren, Lauren (Mark), Lisbeth Poythress (Ransom), Christopher (Fiancé Katerina) and Amanda (Fiancé Stephen); as well as one great granddaughter, Juniper. All will dearly miss her.The family will hold a private burial service at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens.A Celebration of Astrid’s life will take place at 10:15 AM, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at the Village Church at Shell Point on the Island.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Astrid’s honor to The Great Commission Fund, c/o the Village Church 15100 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers, Florida 33908 or to a mission of your choice.The family wants to thank our extended family and friends for all of your kindness and prayers, and Shell Point and Hospice for the caring staff at the Pavilion.
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