Katherine G. Cassel

Katherine Geraldine Cassel (n. Campbell) died  June 11, 2018 at the age of 94 in Gaithersburg, MD.  She was born in Sewickley, PA to Joseph and Delia Campbell on March 25, 1924.  She was married for 56 years to the love of her life, Dr. James M. Cassel (previously deceased October 18, 2000).

Gerry was an active mother of four daughters, Joan Cornfeld (d. 2014)(Edward Cornfeld), Kathy Bohns (Steve Bohns), Alice Rauer (Andreas Rauer)  and Rebecca Stosser (Craig Stosser).  She had 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She always cared about each of them and followed their lives.

She was a long time member of Neelsville Presbyterian Church in Gaithersburg, MD and, previously a 22 year member of Christ Lutheran Church in Bethesda, MD.  She often volunteered her services, even at one point traveling to the Dominican Republic on a church-sponsored mission.

Gerry’s business classes from the U of Pittsburgh came in handy when she later worked as a dedicated secretary for the Christ Church Child Center, Bethesda, MD and later at Tektronics in Germantown. 

She was a snowbird who enjoyed her loving extended family in Pine Island, Florida.  The enclave of visiting relatives brought her great joy.  She also was thrilled to get a tennis trophy in her 80’s while in Florida!

Gerry showed girls they could be very competitive, smart and yet enjoy their femininity.  Her family remembers with great appreciation all the delicious coffeecakes she made, the elaborate clothes and costumes she sewed and the Libby beef stew meals she cooked on a month-long camping trip from Maryland to California.  She will be remembered especially for her “can do” attitude to just push forward despite life’s hurdles. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Eugene, Donald,  and Analana, her daughter, Joan Cornfeld, her grandson, Nicholas Rauer, and sons-in-law, Thomas Keefe, Sr. and Ron Viola.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice, or to the Hospice Caring, Inc for the benefit of the Helping Hands Volunteer Program.   As per Gerry’s request, burial will be private at Arlington Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her dear husband, Jim. 

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