Catherine "Cathy" Russo April 29, 1948 September 21, 2012 Portland - Catherine ""Cathy"" Russo passed away on September 21, 2012 at Mercy Hospital, comforted by family and friends, after a brief but courageous bout with an aggressive form of cancer. Catherine was born in Portland, ME on April 29, 1948, daughter to James and Elizabeth (Smith) Russo. She grew into a very unique person and lived her life in her own style. She always had a fierce loyalty and love for her family and friends. Cathy was funny and witty, and always very honest. You always knew where you stood with her. She was a very caring and giving person, often opening her home to those less fortunate. This was a special gift she shared, especially at holidays. Cathy loved animals, forever feeding the birds and squirrels, often bringing home stray or injured animals. She once brought home a crow with a broken wing. It did not go over well when she kept it in the family bathtub, so she rigged up a cage and nursed it back to health. Cathy loved sports and was an avid Patriots and Red Sox fan. In the late 70's she took an interest in boxing, a sport which at the time was not especially open to women. She trained hard, and by 1978 had reached a sixth place ranking in the Welterweight division of the Women's Boxing Federation. She participated in an exhibition match on Thanksgiving night, 1977, the first time women had ever boxed at the Portland Expo. Today, because of pioneers like Cathy, thousands of women box at the amateur and professional levels nationwide. Throughout her life, Catherine worked at various jobs. She was a hard worker, and enjoyed some non-traditional roles, including working construction with LaBrecque Construction, working in the meat department at Countryside Butchers and BJ's Wholesale Club. Most recently she also worked at JVR, Inc., her father's business. Catherine adored her family and her many life-long friends. If you met Catherine just once, she left an impression. She was truly an unforgettable character, with a big heart. Though she loved all of her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, she was also especially proud of being Godmother to her two God-daughters, Lisa (Foley) Scarafoni, and Beth Aceto. She also held a special place in her heart and her home for ""her boys"", Marcus and Isaiah Henry, who spent much of their summer visits in Maine with her. She was predeceased in life by her parents, James and Elizabeth (Smith) Russo. Catherine was a very spiritual person, and found peace, knowing that she would be reunited in heaven with her parents, who she missed dearly. In fact, she passed on to be with them on the 26th anniversary of her mother's passing. She is survived by her sisters and brother: Sandra Aceto (husband Joe), Rose Whitman, Carol Miles (husband Rick), Greg Russo (wife Rhonda), Cynthia Simmons, Brenda Russo (partner Mike Dyer), Mary-jo Lawry (husband Mike), and many nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and extended family. A special thank you goes out to Catherine's many dear friends, who were always there for her. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 from 10am - 2pm at A.T. Hutchins, LLC Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland. Prayers will be held at 2pm, immediately followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. To offer words of condolence and share memories with the family, please go to the obituaries section at www.athutchins.com In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Catherine's memory to Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Rd. Casco, ME 04015. The full version of Catherine's obituary will be in Monday's edition of thePortland Press Herald.