Catherine Nelda Wesley

Catherine Nelda Wesley

Catherine "Tootsie" (Slanac) Wesley passed to life everlasting January 20, 2025, age 86, at Winter Park, Florida. Predeceased by her parents Joseph and Mary Slanac, formerly of Hammond, Indiana; and her husband of 64 years, Wayne Wesley, former teacher and coach with School City of Hammond.

Catherine graduated from Hammond High School, Class of 1956. She earned a B.S. in Education at Ball State Teachers College, 1959. Through Chi Chi Chapter, Alpha Sigma Alpha, she met Wayne, marrying August 29, 1959; and over succeeding years, she had many fun gatherings with her Alumnae of the Calumet Region Chapter. After having taught at Irving Elementary School, Hammond, Indiana, she moved to Lansing, Illinois. Lansing is where she and her husband enjoyed raising their two sons; she taught CCD at Saint Ann Parish; and she substitute taught at Sunnybrook School District 171. Catherine and Wayne spent their retirement in Lafayette, Indiana, before moving to Florida.

She leaves behind a sister, Mrs. Joan Harris, and a niece, Mrs. Marianne Sannito, both of Waconia, MN; two sons: Michael (Ann) Wesley of Apopka, FL and Thomas (Kristin) Wesley of Cedar Lake, IN; and five grandchildren: Nathan, Nicholas (Hongyan Zhou), Benjamin, Ella, and Eva. Service will be private. Her remains are in care of Loomis Funeral Home, Apopka, FL. Goodbye for now, Catherine, your strong spirit and love will be missed.