Catherine Orite

Peacefully and lovingly surrounded by her family, Catherine Orite (Arite) of Toledo transitioned to heaven on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. Kate, as everyone knew her, had been a resident of Kingston Residence in Sylvania. Kate was born Catena Orite, September 28, 1930, to parents Giuseppe and Concetta (Allia) Arite. A lifelong Toledo resident, she was a proud graduate of St. Ann Catholic School and Notre Dame Academy. In her youth, Kate and her siblings all worked the concessions at the former Swayne Field. She then spent 35 years with Ohio Bell (now AT&T), retiring in 1985. She began her long career as a telephone operator and ended as a senior trainer. Kate was a longtime member of Little Flower Parish and the Alba Club. Kate was a self-taught expert in finance and the stock market and enjoyed passing this knowledge to her family. As one nephew noted, “Aunt Kate was as attentive to the Dow Jones as she was in teaching her nieces and nephews how to wrap a Christmas gift”. Kate’s dearest joy was loving her family. She spent her life caring for her parents and sister Rosie. Although she never married with children of her own, she helped raise many nieces and nephews. She instilled in them a true sense of Italian traditions, including Saturday bread-making, the importance of a simple oil and vinegar salad and a fruit salad at every family gathering. Kate is survived by sister Mary Figliomeni, sisters-in-law Angelina Arite, and Rita Arite. She is also survived by many devoted nieces and nephews, their spouses, and their children. She joins in heaven her parents, Giuseppe and Concetta, sisters Rose and infant sister Mary Elizabeth, her brothers Samuel, James and Anthony, sister-in-law Catherine and brother-in-law Cosimo Figliomeni. A Celebration of Life, Mass of Christian burial, will be held at Little Flower Catholic Church, 5522 Dorr St. Toledo, at 12 noon Friday, August 20th. (live-streamed at the Little Flower website littleflowertoledo.org). Friends will be received at the church from 10:00am-12:00 prior to the funeral mass (please follow CDC masking guidance). Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to Little Flower Catholic Church or Heartbeat of Toledo, 4041 W. Sylvania Ave. Toledo, Ohio 43623. Arrangements by Walker Funeral Home (419-841-2422) and condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com.