Catherine E. Silverman, 53, of Derry, NH, passed away Friday June 29, 2018, in her home. She was born in Arlington, MA on February 1, 1965, a daughter of Catherine (Heenan) Cournoyer and the late Eugene Cournoyer.
Cathy loved learning — no matter the subject and had endless talents and interests. She was an artist, a musician, a baker, a gardener, a storyteller, a costume designer, a teacher, and so much more. She loved to learn about other cultures and was even attending classes to teach English as a secondary language. Cathy was a self-proclaimed nerd who loved Comic-Cons, Game of Thrones, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. She was also a member of the SCA (a medieval reenactment group) where she made some of her best memories.
She loved playing board games with her family and having any type of fun. If she didn't have something she needed, she would simply make — if there was a problem, she would solve it. Cathy was a passionate advocate for what she believed in. She was known to bring a smile or a laugh to anyone’s day. Most importantly, she was a devoted mother and wife. Her love for her family was profoundly unwavering and unshakable. Cathy took great pride in all of their accomplishments and time together.
She spent many years as a substitute teacher in the Derry School District, primarily at West Running Brook Middle School. Here she developed many close friendships with the staff and principal/vice principals, but especially with her fellow subs. The students all loved “Mrs. Silverman” as she loved them and always worked hard to help her students overcome whatever obstacles they had so they could succeed in their classwork. One of the several principle motivations for defeating her cancer was to return to West Running Brook to be with her friends and especially, her students.
Cathy exemplified a life well lived. She lived every day as fully as the day before, full of laughter and love. The greatest of the lessons she leaves is simply this: Carpe Diem.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 29 years, Randall Silverman; two daughters, Katie and Meaghan Silverman; sister, Elaine Gabovitch; two brothers, Bill and Tim Cournoyer; nephew, Evan Gabovitch; many cousins, and the family dog, Chantel the papillon, who she had rescued and lovingly referred to as her ‘French Pastry.’
Funeral services were held on Friday, July 6th at 10:00 am at Holy Cross Church, 187 Hampstead Rd., Derry. A reception celebrating her life followed immediately after the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Little Pink Houses of Hope at www.littlepink.org/make-a-donation/.