The life and times of
Catherine Anne Zimmermann
Born on June 29, 1929 to Mr. Martin Cornelius Monsen and Miss. Mary Anne Coe (Bebop) in Vallejo, California.
Mother of: David, Beverly, Donna, William, John and Mark.
Worked in the cannery in Monterey California packing sardines, then worked as a waitress till she started a Day Care center in Mountain View California in the early 1970s retired around 2000.
Moved to Montana if October of 2018
Passed on May 16, 2020
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Catherine. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at a later date when it is safe for people to travel and gather. Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Catherine and her family.
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Service Schedule
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Belinda Osborn says
Cathy was one of my oldest and dearest best friends. She was my kids California Grandma. She was full of spit and vinegar with the heart of a vaudeville actor. She was my “Hot” Friday night date for many years. No matter what we ended up doing it was always full of excitement and fun. I will miss her with all my heart.
John Limon says
We first met Catherine when we would visit their house in Mt. View to play games as Bill’s friends back in the 80s. Although she insisted that we call her “mom,” she was always “Mrs. Z” to my friend, John, and me. I think she liked how badass that sounded. With each visit, she’d tease us about how confusing our game sessions looked and that there was no way she could ever play them and always begged off when we invited her to join. But she always had cookies to offer.
We got to know her through the years as we became her extended family, her “extra” boys. With Bill as one of my groomsmen (John, too), she was there as an honored guest at my wife’s and my wedding. We first viewed our wedding reception video at her house much to her delight and joy and laughter. Oh, how she laughed at seeing the spirited and tortured karaoke video the groomsmen and I made. Bill was on the drums. John was on keys. She made lasagna for us that evening! Oh, man! That lasagna! My wife and I still talk about that meal after all these years.
We will miss Mrs. Z tremendously. But no matter where we go from here, we’ll always remember the laughter and and kindness of this warm-hearted woman that opened her home to us, to have us have Bill as our close friend, and made us part of her family, her “extra boys.” I remember her once joking with me that we sounded like little kids when we came over to the house, racing around the street corners in that quiet Mountain View neighborhood in our fast cars past the cul-de-sacs, to knock on the door to see if Bill can come out and play. “Now you boys go and play your games. Don’t let me bother you!” she would say to us. But you can bet that she’ll be by in just a few minutes checking on us to be sure we’re still fully loaded up on cookies.
Cookies and that legendary lasagna. Angels better watch out as they’re about to get treated to some of Mrs. Z’s heavenly lasagna. I know she’ll have a warm plate ready for us the next time we see her.
Sam Chiecchi says
Cathy babysat my 3 girls back in the 80s/90s in mountain view. I have wondered what ever happened to her! I am glad she got out of California! She’s a lucky gal! She made it to 90! I love it!! Miss you Grandma Cathy!
Terry Boharsik says
Cathy was my babysitter when I was a kid. I always remember her as being an amazing woman even at the tender age of 5. I would spend a great deal of time at her house and I remember walking to and from school and we would watch Batman in the afternoons and do other fun things. I got her really mad one time when I got a ride with the mailman back to her place and she explained you don’t take rides from strangers. It’s been a long time and I’m glad that she lived a long life. I will never forget her. Sending my love to her family. Your mom was an exceptional woman and I’m sure that you know that.