Catherine "Cathy" Hudgins Roncarati of Newark passed away on Sunday, Dec. 14. She was 57.

Cathy was born in Wilmington, DE, the daughter of Maryanne Menghi and Robert "Bob" Rogers. They cared for her from her first days to her final days. She was a free spirit with a big smile and a bigger heart. She dreamt of motorcycles, horses, and the wilds of Montana and Tennessee. At her best, Cathy's presence alone felt like a warm hug. She had a way of saying "sweetie" or "babe" that could make you feel that all was okay. Her voice could cross a chasm–her friends called her "chatty Cathy"–and her laugh could fill a room. A presence so large can only make its absence more pronounced; Cathy's absences, both past and present, have been and will be felt.

Cathy was preceded in death by her partner, John "Johnny" Morgan, and her beloved brother, Michael Roncarati. She is survived by her daughters Chelsey Maples and Mikeda "Keda" Morgan; grandson, Noah Sutter; parents, Maryanne Menghi and Bob Rogers; brother, Shaun Rogers; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles, all of whom she loved and loved her just the same.

Cathy's Celebration of Life will occur on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 11a.m. at the Mealey Funeral Home. Her ashes will be spread with Johnny's in Maryland, where their best memories with Chelsey and Keda were made.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Catherine's name to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 (www.cancer.org)