Catharine "Cathy" Anne (Romano) Gerster

Catharine “Cathy” Anne Gerster (née Romano), 84, of Woodbury, MN, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born in Los Angeles, CA, on October 12, 1941, Cathy was a natural leader from day one. As the consummate big sister, she spent her childhood caring for—and keeping tabs on—her two younger sisters. She grew up playing piano, adventuring with the Girl Scouts, and cultivating a lifelong love of learning that led her to graduate from Mount St. Mary’s College. Her passion for science took her to Arizona State University to study Chemistry, but it was a different kind of chemistry that changed her life forever when she met John Gerster. They married on October 10, 1964, marking the beginning of a beautiful partnership and what Cathy always called the most joyous day of her life.

After a brief time in Salt Lake City, UT, where daughter Susan was born, they moved to John's roots in Minnesota, settling in Woodbury and welcoming daughter Stephanie. Cathy threw herself into her community and her family. She was the proud past president of the Woodbury-Cottage Grove League of Women Voters, but her favorite role was being a mother, never missing her daughters' activities.

Cathy was a woman of sharp wit and delightful convictions. A devoted sports fan, her family always knew when the North Stars suffered a tough loss, as the television would immediately be unplugged and spun around to face the wall. She was an avid bridge player, a lifelong hater of wind and open cabinet doors, and a joyful traveler. Her favorite adventures were always family vacations, especially a memorable trip to Pompeii, Italy, where she happily channeled her inner archaeologist.

Her bright spirit lives on through her husband, John; her daughters, Susan (Erik) Zentmyer and Stephanie Gerster; her sister Denise (Ron) Shultz; her grandchildren, Rose, Jonathan, and Katy; and her grandcats, Sofia and Enzo. She is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Kathryne Romano and her sister, Michele Robitaille.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 10:00 am at O'Halloran & Murphy (8700 Valley Creek Rd, Woodbury, MN 55125). Private family burial at Guardian Angels Cemetery in Oakdale, MN. In honor of Cathy's generous heart, donations may be made to Metavivor or the American Cancer Society.

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