Catherine Marie O'Grady Schuster, loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend left us on May 6, 2022, just months before her 95 ^th birthday.

Catherine was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 12, 1927, to Eugene and Helen (Schroeder) O'Grady. Her father, Gene, moved from Oberlin, Kansas to Buenos Aires in the early 20's, joining his brother in business. It was at a Plaza Hotel dance he met Helen Schroeder, from Columbus, Nebraska, and in just four short months, they were married. They would share a life together in Buenos Aires until Helen's death in 1984.

Catherine was the oldest of the four siblings, followed by Helen, John, and Maureen. She shared many stories of growing up. She especially loved her summers at the family cabin in San Martin de los Andes, or on the beaches of Uruguay. She talked of flights with her father to the US in the early 30s, where her plane only flew in the day light and barely cleared the jungle trees. They played field hockey in the park by the river and attended American High School. They watched the arrival of German troops as the boat travelled up the Plate River.

Catherine attended St Elizabeth college in New Jersey where she met lifelong friends. Her intellect and bi-lingual skills afforded her unique job opportunities. After returning to Buenos Aires, she worked at numerous jobs, finally ending in the US Embassy in Argentina in the USAF office of Air Attaché. She was at one point, working as a translator for the CIA in a clandestine Florida travel agency during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

It was at an American Embassy dance, in Buenos Aires, that she met Mike Schuster, a radio operator in the US Air Force. Catherine and Mike would eventually be married in Florida in 1961. Mike would move up the Air Force ranks to Senior Chief Master Sargent. They have three sons together. John and James were born while stationed in Chicopee Falls, MA. Damien was welcomed into the family at the Hickam AFB in Hawaii. The family moved between military bases over the years, but after a divorce in 1976, Catherine returned to Rapid City to raise her boys. She spent 20 years working in the registrar's office of National College. After retiring she spent several years teaching ESL to Rapid City residents.

With the children grown, Catherine was able to resume her love of travel. Between annual visits to see grandchildren, Catherine's travel abroad took her to the UK, Ireland, Russia, New Zealand, Newfoundland and of course, trips back to her home country of Argentina. When in Rapid, the travel consisted of daily walks with friends through Meadowbrook and Canyon Lake parks.

Catherine was a petite, soft-spoken lady with the inner strength of a giant. She had a deep religious faith, a compassionate heart and was kind and generous to all she met.  She was fluent in 3 languages and never gave up her love of learning. Even into her late 80s she was teaching herself Portuguese.

Catherine is survived by her three children: John (Laurie); James (Beth); and Damien (Rebecca); 14 grandchildren; her sister Helen of San Mateo; her sister-in-law, Isabelle, and multiple cousins in Buenos Aires, New York and France and London. Catherine is preceded in death by her brother, John, and her sister Maureen.

A funeral mass will be offered at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on May 20, 2022 at 10am. Catherine will be buried next to her sister, Maureen at Piedmont Cemetery. From her chosen resting place, there is a view of the Black Hills that she called home for 47 years.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St Jude Children's Hospital, a foundation Catherine supported for many years.