Catherine Sarah Hamilton, nee Kinch of Traverse City, died Jan 26, 2020 at her home while surrounded by loving family and friends. She was 80.
She was the widow of Kenneth Hamilton and was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Arlene Orth Kinch; and a son, Frank Hardy.
Cathy is survived by her brother, Richard Kinch (Linda Stengel); son, Matthew Sullivan (Angel); daughter, Kimberly Miller (Eric); son, the Rev. Steven Hamilton (Jeanette); nieces, Judith Kinch (Mark Smithivas) and Rachael Kinch (Mark Kangas); and grandsons, Justin Chase (Jessica), Timothy Wilson (Kallie), Johnathan Miller, Matthew Proper, Steven Hamilton Jr, and Matthew Hamilton; and great grandson, Nathaniel Chase.
Cathy attended Traverse City public schools (Traverse City High School, 1957), Northwestern Michigan College, the University of Michigan and Northern Michigan University.
She was a high school English and theater teacher but for most of her professional life was a case worker and supervisor for the Social Services departments of Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties.
She was a long time member of Central United Methodist Church, Traverse City.
Cathy had a significant talent for color and design and was a skillful decorator and seamstress. Early in her adult life she had a lively interest in natural history, especially geology and botany. This latter developed into an absorbing practice as a gardener. She was active in the Grand Traverse Friendly Garden Club, Rose Society and Ikebana Club. She was a master gardener, conducted horticultural workshops and cultivated a spectacular urban garden at her home in Traverse City.
Her hobbies included, at various times, rock collecting, botanizing, and stained glass.
She was known for her sense of humor, her capacity for friendship, her commitment to volunteer work and her generous sense of collegiality.
Her life was not always fortunate but despite her widowhood, the untimely loss of her son, Frank, and later declining health, she was always amiable and pleasantly gregarious.
Her family is especially grateful to Heartland Hospice Care for their constant and sensitive support and to Sunrise Comfort Care. We are also grateful for the attentive care and affectionate regard of her many friends (who are ours also.)
A memorial service will be planned for the coming summer. Details will be announced.
