Catharine S. DeBlaker

Mrs. DeBlaker was born in Shamokin, PA, and was a daughter of the late Joseph and Sarah Jane Markle Sockoloskie. She was married to John Wesley DeBlaker, Sr., who died in 1974 and was also preceded in death by a sister Marguerite Mahek and by two brothers, George and Joseph Sockoloskie.

She taught kindergarten at Immaculata School in Hendersonville where she lived from 1950 until moving to Asheville in 1958 and then taught at St. Joan of Arc School Catholic School in Asheville. She also worked at the Vanderbilt Day Care and in the millinery department of Ivey’s Department Store. She was an active member of St. Joan off Arc Catholic Church where she was a member of the Altar Society. She was also a volunteer with ABCCM and St. Joseph Hospital and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

She is survived by three daughters, Kathleen Simpson of Sunbury, PA, Evelyn Pinto of Tampa, FL and Mary Carol Morrison of Asheville; two sons, John W. “Jack” DeBlaker, Jr. of Saratoga, WY and Joseph DeBlaker of Honea Path, SC; four sisters, Helene McPhelin of Philadelphia, PA, Sister Mary Therese of Immaculata, PA, Mary Kincannon of Phildelphia and Winifred Bluestein of Florida; twenty grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

A Prayer Service is scheduled for 6:00 pm Sunday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. John M. Pagel officiating. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 pm Monday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.

Interment will be at St. Edwards Roman Catholic Cemetery, Shamokin, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 919 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806.