Catherine Ann Coldren

Catherine Ann Coldren, of Bellingham, passed away on March 8, 2022 at her home.
Cathy was born on August 12, 1952 at the hospital on McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington. She would be the only child of Beverly Elaine Coldren (nee Snydal) and Leroy “Roy” Coldren, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. At the time of her birth he was stationed in Alaska and was sent a telegram with the message “It’s a Cathy.”
In Cathy’s early years, her family lived in Fairbanks, Alaska and Columbus, Ohio before they settled in Port Angeles, Washington, where she grew up and graduated from Port Angeles High School in 1970. Her parents both worked for Peninsula Bottling Company, owned by her mother’s brother Art Snydal.
After high school, Cathy attended Peninsula Junior College for two years, during which time she began working for the Port Angeles city library. She moved to Bellingham and in 1975 began a long career at the Bellingham Public Library. When she retired in 2015, as one of the longest serving members of their staff, she had been at the library for forty years.
Cathy’s long career at the library yielded many lifelong friends. She was dedicated to her friends, and they to her. She had an infectious laugh and was a very caring person.
She loved going to plays and music events at the Mount Baker Theater. She also loved vacationing in Hawaii, and made the trip every year for a long stretch with friends Steve and Paul. She loved the beach and hunting for shells, many of which adorned her home.
Perhaps her most significant decorating feature, however, had whiskers. She loved cats, and had many as pets over the years. But cats also decorated dishware, wall art, pillows, fabrics and holiday decorations.
She supported the Whatcom Humane Society and kept current with their activities. Her love for cats extended to all animals. She also supported Lydia’s Place, a homeless shelter in Bellingham predominantly for women and children
A memorial for Cathy is planned for the near future, and people who want to participate, in person or virtually through Zoom, should contact her cousin Bill Thorness ( bill@thorness.com ) to be notified and included. All will be welcome.
Cathy is survived by her uncle, Laurence Snydal of San Jose, California, and many cousins from a large extended family.
Honor Cathy’s life with a tribute gift to the Whatcom Humane Society at https://www.whatcomhumane.org/donate/#tribute or a memorial gift to the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library at https://form.jotform.com/203007095537149 .