Cathy Marasco passed away peacefully while surrounded by her loved ones at Kavanaugh House in Des Moines on April 22, 2024.
Born in Long Beach, California to Robert and Marguerite Harris in 1948, Cathy was the eldest of four kids. Raised in a military family, she lived in various parts of the country before settling down in Des Moines, Iowa.
Cathy enjoyed many things in life. She was a voracious reader who was forever in the middle of an endless stack of books. She loved traveling and was definitely in her element whenever she was on a cruise ship with her siblings. Cathy was always up for a good time and loved window shopping, listening to live music, and playing Trivial Pursuit with her best friend Judy. She loved animals and owned two cats and a parrot. If something had a flamingo on it, people always thought of Cathy. She had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed sharing it with friends and family. Her resilience was astounding and awe-inspiring. She was a rock to her loved ones. Cathy loved her three children dearly and encouraged them to be the tenacious people they are today. She was their biggest supporter, and her greatest achievement was knowing that they were happy and thriving. She lived life on her own terms and was respected for it. She will be forever missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Cathy is survived by her children, Lisa Akers, Andrea (Sean) Marble, and Christopher (Aimee) Marasco, all of whom reside in the Des Moines area. She is also survived by her four granddaughters and one great-grandson, Courtney (Zach) Isaacson, Ashley Akers, Emma and Hannah Marasco, and Bentley Isaacson.
Survivors also include her parents, Robert and Marguerite Harris, her sister Debra Riley, and her brothers Roger Harris, and Keith (Elsa) Harris. She was preceded in death by various grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.
The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to the amazing staff at Kavanaugh House.
A memorial ceremony will be held on Friday April 26, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Merle Hay Chapel, 4400 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310.
