Catherine M. Vender

Our beloved mother and nana, Catherine M. Vender, entered peacefully into heaven into the hands of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 8, 2026, at 90 years old surrounded by her loving family. Catherine was born on April 21, 1936, in Trenton, New Jersey to the late Levino and Amelia Uliveri Razzi. She lived in Ewing, New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English and History from Trenton State College. She dedicated thirty-two years to teaching English and History in the Mercer County School District. Prior to her retirement, she taught ninth grade English at Fisher Junior High School. During her teaching career, she received many awards and honors, including Teacher of the Year. She was known for her patience and infectious enthusiasm for teaching. She took great pride in seeing students succeed and wanted each student to feel valued in her classroom. She was a life-long parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Ewing, New Jersey until she moved to Evans, Georgia in 2017 and became a parishioner at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in North Augusta, South Carolina. Catherine’s faith was a cornerstone of her life. She lived out her beliefs through decades of quiet service and steadfast devotion. Catherine, better known as Nana, lived for her family. She was a kind, loving, devoted, and strong person who adored spending time with her children, their spouses, her grandchildren, and her cat, Jake. She was an avid reader who found boundless joy in the pages of a good book. She enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends. She will be remembered as a loving wife, wonderful mother, outstanding “rock star” nana, exceptional role model, and devout Catholic who touched the lives of many people. She took immense pride in watching her family grow. Her strength, compassion, and love will live on in the hearts of her family. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of fifty-nine years, John James Vender, Jr. Surviving members of her family left to cherish Nana’s memory include her son, John Richard Vender; daughter, Cynthia Leigh Vender Foreman; daughter-in-law, Anne Marie Kerstiens Vender; son-in-law, Robert Craig Foreman; and five grandchildren: Elizabeth Catherine Vender, Sarah Anne Vender, Joanna AmeliaRose Vender, Kenneth Robert Foreman, and Charles John Foreman. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in North Augusta, South Carolina. Visitation and entombment will follow at Pineview Memorial Gardens. Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta is in charge of arrangements (803-278-1181).

Catherine M. Vender

April 21, 1936 - May 8, 2026