Mrs. Cathyrina Moldovan

May 15, 1923 - January 7, 2017

Cathyrina Brosio Moldovan was born on May 15, 1923 in Horodenka, Poland. As a young teenage girl, she was detained in a prisoner of war camp in Germany, known as Dachau, near Munich. She lived with nuns in a convent before the war. During World War II, a physician near the camp took her under his guidance and she helped him with treating other prisoners of war. She met Al's Dad who was a prisoner of war, while working with this doctor, who she referred to as "Papa Joe". Papa Joe later helped her escape the camp and she made her way to Italy. While in Italy, she met a young Navy officer by the name of Pitor D'Ambrosio. They married and in the spring of 1946, their first child was born, Alfredo. In 1950, a daughter was also born, Vincenza Rita. In early 1952, Cathyrina's husband succumbed to heart disease. At this post-war time, Cathyrina and her 2 young children moved into a Displaced Persons Camp in Italy, where she soon met Alexander Moldovan, a war refugee from Romania who was also living in this camp. They were soon married in March of 1952. The following year Cathyrina and Alex had a daughter, Annarosa and in 1955 a son was born, Ottavio. In 1959, the family packed up and with the sponsorship of the First Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, they immigrated to the United States, to settle in Kalamazoo. The following year in 1960, another son, Alexander was born. Cathyrina was a good mother and homemaker. She was a very hard worker, who worked outside the home at Loy Norrix in the cafeteria and also cleaning offices in downtown Kalamazoo. Occasionally, she also helped her husband in his house painting business over the years. She was also very active in the Democratic Party supporting Howard Wolpe for several years. In 1965, Cathyrina became a citizen of the USA, which she was very proud of. She is preceded in death by her second husband, Alexander in 1985 and by her oldest son, Alfredo in 2008. She is survived by 2 daughters, Vincenza Rita Palms and Annarosa Moldovan; 2 sons, Otto Moldovan (Chris) and Alexander Moldovan (Christine); an her daughter-in-law, Linda Moldovan. Cathyrina will also be greatly missed by her 9 grandchildren and her 18 great-grandchildren.