Catherine Cronin Fiser

Catherine Cronin Fiser passed away in her home in Auburn, Alabama at the age of 93 years in the early morning hours of December 22, 2024; a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease.  Catherine was surrounded by many members of her family, some who had come from as far away as Colorado Springs, CO and Cordova, AK.

Catherine was born in New Haven, CT on September 16, 1931, the only child of William Joseph and Helen Cannon Cronin.  She was a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with bachelor’s degrees in both Elementary Education and Library Science.  She first taught second and third grades in Orange, CT, then was hired by the U S Air Force where she was employed as the Elementary Librarian at Chateauroux AFB in Chateauroux, France.   During her second year at Chateauroux she met Lieutenant Richard Yates Fiser from Shreveport, LA.  They were married on June 13, 1959 in the base chapel by the base Catholic Chaplin, Reverand Father Major John P. Fink.  Lt. Fiser’s active military tour terminated in March, 1960 allowing the couple to return to “The Land of the Big PX”  and to return to civilian life where Mr. Fiser was employed as a Chemical Engineer.  Thereafter they lived in Petersburg, VA where three of their four children were born.  Following a job change by Richard they moved to Williamsburg, VA, then to Anderson, SC where their fourth child, Susan, was born. Another job change required a move to Memphis, TN where Catherine for ten years taught a second grade for the Shelby County School System.  Another job transfer took her and her family to Lakeland, FL.  Following Mr. Fiser’s retirement and the marriages of all their children, they moved to Blairsville, GA where they bought a home in the woods.  There they lived happily for the following twenty-five years.  On realizing they were getting elderly they moved to Auburn, AL to be near to the families of their two eldest daughters.  The following seven years were marred by the onset of Catherine’s Alzheimer’s disease.

Catherine was a gregarious and gracious person always ready to make new friends and meet new neighbors.  Her first love was teaching children in the lower grades.  Books and children’s librarian involvement were her second.  Child welfare was surely her greatest love.  Although a city girl she loved out of doors activities and all of the wonders of nature from animals to plants to sunsets.  World travel was also one of her many interests. She was an amateur artist who enjoyed painting with watercolors.  Gardening around her homes was also one of her particular interests, She was a faithful, willing and capable participant and worker for any church in which she was a member.   Most of all she was a faithful wife and loving mother and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Catherine is survived by husband of 65 years, Richard Y. Fiser, son Richard L. Fiser (Daun), three daughters Catherine Ramey (Robert), Lisa McGuire, and Susan Waye (David), twelve grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.  Catherine was a member of St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church of Auburn.  Following a chapel service for the family conducted by Reverend Monsignor Michael L. Farmer, her remains were interned in Town Creek Cemetery, Auburn, AL.