Catherine A. Dwyer of Severna Park, MD, and former resident of North Beach, MD, passed away on July 12, 2024.  She was born in Washington, DC, on October 27, 1930, to Frank J. Salatto, Sr., and Esterina Salatto.  She grew up close to the National Zoo in the Mount Pleasant area of the District.  She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and went on to work as a secretary in the Federal Government.

Catherine loved to go to the roller-skating rink, where one evening she met her future husband, Jim Dwyer.  They married on June 23, 1951, and celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary six months prior to Jim’s death.  Over the years, they lived in Washington, DC, Landover Hills, MD, Hyattsville, MD, North Beach, MD, and Severna Park, MD.

Family life was the driving force for Catherine.  She gave birth to six children and dedicated herself to raising her family.  In an era before disposable diapers, Catherine would wash the cloth diapers and hang them out to dry.  She would sit on the floor and read books to her children.  She carpooled her sons to high school in Northeast D.C.  She made every Christmas, Easter, and birthday an exciting occasion.  Also, Catherine passed on to her family the joy of having an annual family vacation in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.

Catherine enjoyed her Italian heritage, especially cooking Italian dishes.  Her lasagna, Italian wedding soup, antipasto, and spaghetti and crabs were always a big hit. She learned how to bake leg of lamb from her Irish mother-in-law. It was delicious.

Catherine was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Landover Hills, MD for 45 years.  For 18 years she was a parishioner at St. Anthony’s Church in North Beach.  She participated in Bible Studies and other religious programs in addition to attending Mass.

Catherine and Jim loved to travel.  Their first “big” trip was to San Francisco to celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary.  They caught the travel bug and, over the years, traveled to many States and to Japan, Europe, the Caribbean, and Canada. A highlight was visiting the town in Italy where her mother grew up.  She had an amazing memory of the places she visited and loved to chat with others who had visited the same places.

Catherine had a well-earned reputation for taking photos.  She filled numerous albums with photos of her family and of the trips she took with Jim. Her photos are a wonderful chronicle of her life.

Catherine is survived by her children, Mary Dwyer Oxendine of Solomons, James P. Dwyer, III and wife Paula of Ellicott City, Michael J. Dwyer and wife Cheryl of Lothian, Thomas B. Dwyer and wife Karla of Ellicott City, and Frank J. Dwyer and wife Patricia of Burtonsville, 16 grandchildren,18 great grandchildren, sister Lucy Poudrier, brother Frank J. Salatto, Jr., and wife Elaine, sister Antoinette Ambro and partner Rodger.  She was preceded in death by her husband, James P. Dwyer, Jr., son Steven J. Dwyer, and sister Dolores Correa.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00, August 19, 2024, at St. Anthony’s Church, 8816 Chesapeake Avenue, North Beach, MD.  A repast will be held immediately following the funeral Mass.  Interment will be held at 2:30 in Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, MD.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions in Catherine’s name may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122 or through the Hospice of the Chesapeake website.