Catherine Mary Hepting Strickland

Catherine Mary Hepting Strickland, born in New Orleans, LA on November 14, 1937, passed away peacefully into eternal rest on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the age of 87 surrounded by her loving family. 

She is survived by her Daughters Cheryl Strickland, Linda Sonnier (Brad), Susan Roger, Mary Olsen (Jim), Kathleen Ervin (Steve), her Grandchildren Kristin, Michelle, Teri, Bradley, Anthony, Brandy, Brandon, Heidi, Tiffany, Nicholas, Mae, Kelly, Christopher, Melissa and her Great-Grandchildren Bodhi, Amelia, Olivia, Lucas, Anna, Kate, Raven, Rian, Raelee, Leah, Adalynn, Avryana, Lanie, Nash, Beverly, Max, Rosemary, Zelda, Griffin.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Irma Portune Hepting and John Hepting, Jr., her brother John Adam Hepting III and nephew John Adam Hepting IV. 

Catherine was raised in Gretna and lived there until she started college at Southeastern University majoring in Home Economics. Prior to that, she graduated Valedictorian of her class at Gretna High School. She grew up in Old Gretna and was very proud of her generations old family that settled there, always recalling fond memories of her upbringing and childhood. She met Jack Strickland during college while he was in the Army, and they wed shortly after his enlistment ended in 1959. They shared their lives together for 36 years raising their daughters, traveling to locations such as Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago and Bahrain and living in different states throughout the country. They started their married life in Hammond then moved to Gretna and Morgan City and finally settled in Lafayette for the remainder of their daughters’ high school years. A proud mother of five daughters, she was devoted to her family by cooking homemade meals, baking nearly every day and sewing special outfits for “her girls”. She enjoyed hobbies such as needlework, reading, traveling and brightened the day of those in need with the art of clowning. She enjoyed teaching for a short time at Immaculate Conception in Marrero and held various secretarial positions in Lafayette. She was a member of the Gretna Historical Society and officer of Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Catherine was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. She was genuine, religious, kind and loving, with a strong moral character, exceptional memory and a gentle nature. Family meant everything to her, and she never missed an opportunity to proudly share her family’s achievements, endeavors and adventures with others. She was a true southern lady proud of her ancestry and German heritage. A confidant to some and a character to others, she was constant in our lives. She always had a sweet smile, cherished sharing her life stories with her family and always wanted to know about everyone’s day, life and experiences. In the final years of her life, she enjoyed her time at Garden View with her newfound friends enjoying their companionship. Her life was a blessing, a memory and a treasure and she will surely be missed.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 30th from 5 - 8 pm and Friday, January 31st from 9 - 10 am at Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, LA 70058. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 31st at 10:30 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 610 6th Street, Gretna, LA. Burial will immediately follow at Westlawn Memorial Park, 1225 Whitney Ave, Gretna, LA.

Special thanks to Father Steve Leake, St. Joseph Church, Garden View Assisted Living Facility, Lourdes Hospital, Calcutta Hospice House, the Carmelite Sisters and all of our family and friends for their prayers and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Carmelite Monastery, 1250 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501. 

The family kindly invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories and condolences online at  www.MotheFunerals.com. Mothe Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.