Obituary of Cathleen "Cathy" N. Hutchinson

Cathleen (“Cathy”) N. Hutchinson, of Madison, NJ, died on Sunday, September 30, 2018 after a long illness. She was 64 years old.

Born Cathleen Frances Nussbaum in Suffern, NY, Cathy was the oldest of four siblings. Her parents, Joyce and Henry, moved often and among the places that Cathy spent her childhood were Old Bridge, NJ, Springfield, PA, Finderne, NJ, and Madison, NJ where she attended Bayley Ellard High School.

In 1976, Cathy earned a B.S. in Nursing from Farleigh Dickinson University, and worked in Dover General’s Oncology Unit. Afterwards, she moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where she trained in addiction medicine, and used her expertise to serve as a Nurse at Daybreak, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

She moved back to Madison in 1982 and attended her 10th high school reunion where she and fellow classmate, Bill Hutchinson, reconnected and ultimately fell in love. Cathy was working at CAI at the time, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center. The couple married in 1984, and enjoyed a long, happy marriage. They would have celebrated their 34th anniversary in December.

The mother of two children, Christine and Billy, Cathy spent several years as a full-time mom, leading the brownie troops and cub scout dens, and attending, as her family recalls, every single game, meet, match, and performance that the children participated in. She also attended conferences and conventions with Bill, who served as the Superintendent and Chief Engineer of Southeast Morris County MUA, and later as Executive Director.

Cathy’s siblings and siblings-in-law were grateful recipients of her warmth and hospitality. Along with Bill, she hosted wonderful family parties in her home. Gifted at knitting, cross-stitch, needlepoint and crochet, she handmade and donated hats for premature babies and warm scarves for the homeless in the Gettysburg area. She also made cherished gifts for loved ones and beautified her home with her creations.  Her generosity extended to caring for family members in times of sickness and providing time, comfort, and her fabulous sense of humor to family and friends regularly throughout her life.

In 2000, Cathy offered her nursing skill to area schools as a substitute nurse. She regaled her family with funny stories about children she treated. A history buff, Cathy was very active in the Daughters of the American Revolution; serving as recording secretary, a refurbisher of the Schyler-Hamilton house; and with her daughter Christine, a participant in Morristown parades, where they marched in authentic Revolutionary War era costumes.

Cathy is survived by her husband, Bill; her children, Christine Smith, also of Madison; and William Hutchinson, Jr., of Philadelphia, PA; as well as her three siblings, Richard Nussbaum, of Farmington, NM, Charles Nussbaum, of Gettysburg, PA, and Cynthia Harper, of Window Rock, AZ. Her viewing will take place on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 from 4-7pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main Street, Madison. A Funeral Service for Cathy will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 11:00am at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, her family would most appreciate donations to Abrahamson Cancer Center, Gift of Hope, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (www.giving.apps.upenn.edu).