Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Catherine Gregory
Catherine H. Gregory
September 15, 1919-May 10, 2020
Catherine H. Gregory “Kit” died on Sunday, May 10, 2020 at Homestead Village in Lancaster, PA.
Catherine H. Gregory was born to Clinton J. Hahn and Elizabeth (Crouse) Hahn on September 15, 1919 in Bath, PA.
Catherine graduated from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA with a B.A. in Social Studies and a minor in Latin in 1941. She studied Chinese at Cornell University and Yale University and learned Japanese at the Naganuma Tokyo School of Japanese Language.
Catherine married Paul Radcliffe Gregory in 1941 and the two co-pastored a congregation in Mountville, PA. Catherine and Paul were then commissioned by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), a predecessor mission body of Global Ministries, to serve in China and then Japan for ten years. Paul would go on to serve as the Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific of the United Church Board of World Ministries (UCBWM), a successor body of ABCFM in New York, New York, as well as General Secretary of the UCBWM Mission Division.
Catherine taught Social Studies and Latin at Saucon Valley High School, Boyertown Area Senior High School, Abington Junior High School, and Montclair Kimberly Academy in Montclair, New Jersey. She also worked in Human Resources at Mountainside Hospital, in New Jersey.
Catherine and Paul retired to Homestead Village and were active at Church of the Apostles United Church of Christ in Lancaster, PA. Catherine was passionate about volunteering with organizations addressing homelessness, organizing clothing and food drives. She also visited those in the nursing units at Homestead Village regularly.
Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, who died in 2012. She is survived by her children Nancy G. Black (James), Judith L. Brun (Robert), and Lynne A. Porpiglia (Joseph); and grandchildren Melanie Wood, Joseph Porpiglia, Michael Black, Kimberly Black Angela Brun, Remi Brun, and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Apostles UCC, Global Ministries, Heifer International, Bread for the World, Habitat for Humanity, or Lancaster Theological Seminary. Condolences to the family may be sent to Nancy Black at nanjimblk@ yahoo.com.