CATHERINE R. (BASSO) SZYMANSKI passed away on May 9, 2021, at St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, in the company of her loving family. She was 80 years old.
Catherine was born in Brooklyn, NY, but loved the Bronx Bombers and, most of all she loved No. 7- Mickey Mantle. At an early age, her family moved from NY to Point Pleasant Beach, where she grew up loving the Jersey Shore and boating. You could catch her water skiing and playing in the muddy water of the Metedeconk River near the “River Shack”. Later in life, Catherine shared her love of boating and the shore with her own children and husband. Even though she grew up at the shore, Catherine still maintained a love for Broadway Musicals and NYC.
She attended Georgian Court College in Lakewood, NJ, where she earned a BA in Elementary Education, in 1962.
Following graduation, Catherine started her teaching career in the Toms River school system. She later worked for the Helmetta Public Schools alongside other Georgian Court College alumnae and nally, for the Spotswood Public Schools. While working for the Spotswood school system, she offered basic skills support in reading and math for Special Education students. Catherine retired in 2006. She was a member of the NJEA and the Spotswood Education Association. She was also an of cer of the Ladies Polish Club in Spotswood, and an of cer for the Middlesex County Chapter of the Georgian Court College Alumni Association, from whom she received the Alumni Service Award in 1992.
After college, Catherine was involved with the Catholic Young Adult Club (CYAC) where she spent time as a member of their bowling league. It was there that Catherine met the love of her life, Joseph. After falling in love and getting married, she moved to Spotswood 54 years ago.
Catherine was a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood, where she served as a school PTA of cer. She also was a Girl Scout Leader for the Delaware-Raritan Girl Scout Council for many years while her daughters participated in scouting. She was well known as the family photographer, always capturing life’s memories both big and small.
She was predeceased by her parents, William and C. Rita (Cuneo) Basso, and brother, Anthony Basso.
Surviving are her loving husband of 55 years, Joseph; son Mark of East Falmouth, MA; daughters Maria Chludzinski and her husband, John, of Spotswood, Laura Feiteira and her husband, Ernesto, of Natick, MA; sister, Mary Basso of Brielle, 6 grandchildren, John and his wife, Jennifer, William, Matthew, Angelina, Mia and Eva.
The family would like to thank the many caregivers who made it possible for Catherine to remain at home during her battle with Parkinson’s Disease. The family is grateful for the care that Ann, Lena, and Maria Lourdes all provided, and especially so with the love and attention she received from Jen Chludzinski.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 10:00am, at Immaculate Conception Church, 18 South Street, Spotswood under the direction of The BRUNSWICK MEMORIAL HOME, East Brunswick. Interment will follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Monroe Township. For directions or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.BrunswickMemorialHome.com
In lieu of owers the family requests donations to the Georgian Court University School of Nursing, go to https://alumni.georgian.edu/give-now, select the School of Nursing or mail donations directly to Georgian Court University, Of ce of Institutional Advancement, 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701-2697 or
The Spotswood Education Foundation, P.O. Box 175, Spotswood, NJ 08884 or through Spotswood Board of Education website: spsd.us click on the Parent link and look for the Spotswood Education Foundation link.