Catherine Ann Franks, age 73, of Altoona, Wisconsin died at her home with her family on Wednesday, December 21, 2011. Cathy was born August 2, 1938 in St. Paul, MN. She was the 3rd of 5 children born to Arthur J. and Florence (Corcoran) Farrell. Cathy was married to David Franks on September 9, 1961. They have a son, David Eric Franks (Kissimmee, FL) and a daughter Jennifer Marie Franks (Englewood, FL). She was extremely close to her brother James Farrell, her sister-in-law Carol Farrell, brother-in-law John Donnelly, sister-in-law Mary Farrell and many loved Farrell, Donnelly and Franks-Gingrich nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Mary Donnelly, brother Ed Farrell and sister Margaret Farrell. As a mother, wife, daughter and sister, her warmth and strength defined a quietly exceptional life. Her professional career was equally impressive and humble, from high school at St. Joseph's Academy to a B.S at St. Louis U. After a brief hiatus to raise her children through their teenage years as well as support her husband through his PhD. and a tenured university career, Cathy returned to school as an adult at Hahnemann culminating in a doctoral degree from UW Madison in physical therapy and motor development. She served at local hospitals and schools and taught a number of university courses. She was a pioneer in promoting team interventions involving physical therapy, occupational therapy and specially designed physical education, classroom teachers and parents. Although her impressive professional accomplishments were well respected, she was perhaps most proud of her volunteer work with a Hmong immigrant woman who she mentored through English literacy and eventual American citizenship. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, jazz and was a voracious reader. While the Vatican on Earth could puzzle her at times, her deep and abiding Catholic faith and love and affection for her local parish was steadfast and true. She is grateful to her family and friends for the love and support they gave to her through her long illness and to the skilled and empathetic medical professionals, including the home hospice personnel who kept her comfortable and peaceful to the end. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11am, on Friday, December 23, 2011, at the Newman Parish in the Ecumenical Religious Center on the UW Eau Claire Campus, 110 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire with Father George Szews officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the Mass at Church. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Eau Claire Community Table, the Literacy Volunteers of America-Chippewa Valley or Catholic Charities of St. Paul (Adoptions).

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