Catherine "Cathy" Pysarenko

In Loving Memory of Catherine Marie Pysarenko

June 16, 1951– November 6, 2026

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Catherine Marie Pysarenko (Valdivia), who passed away on November 6, 2026, at the age of 75.

Born in Sterling, Illinois, Catherine made her home in Northlake, Illinois, where she built a beautiful life centered around faith, love, and family. She was a devoted wife to her husband, Victor Pysarenko, an amazing mother, a loving grandmother, and an adoring great-grandmother.

Catherine was a woman of faith, remarkable strength, and a genuinely kind heart. Her family was her world, and she had a special way of bringing everyone together. She loved having her family gathered at her home, filling it with laughter, conversation, and memories that will be cherished forever. She especially loved being silly and making everyone laugh, never missing an opportunity to bring a smile to their faces.

She had a love for adventure and traveling, whether it was taking trips around the country by plane and bus with her husband or setting off on spontaneous road trips with her daughter and granddaughter Arianna. Those road trips were always an adventure of their own, with no itinerary or set destination. They would simply hit the road, see something interesting along the way, and stop wherever the day took them. Those unplanned adventures became some of the most treasured memories.

Some of her happiest moments were the simple ones spent with family. She loved her girls’ movie nights with her daughter and granddaughters, and she was always there cheering on her grandsons at their youth sports games. She also treasured spending time with her great-grandchildren, creating special memories and showering them with love.

Catherine loved music, singing, and dancing, especially to her favorite Mexican music. She had a fun-loving spirit and a playful side that everyone who knew her will remember. Whether singing along to her favorite songs or turning up Pitbull’s “Fireball,” she knew how to enjoy life and bring energy and laughter into a room.

Above all, Catherine’s greatest joy was her family. Life may have taken her loved ones in different directions as they grew older and built lives of their own, but her love for them never changed. She continued to cherish those who were part of her life and found happiness in seeing the people she loved happy.

Catherine leaves behind her beloved husband, Victor; her children, Marc (Jackie), Herb (Laura), and Marissa (Johnny); her eight grandchildren, Michael, Jordan, Arianna, Jessi, Kurt, Josh, Sabrina, and Brody; and her seven great-grandchildren, Alivia, Conrad, Sienna, Savea, Wells, Carter, and Corbin.

Though our hearts are broken by her passing, we find comfort in knowing that her love, faith, strength, and the memories she created will remain with us always. Her laughter will echo in our family gatherings, her spirit will live on in the traditions she created, and her love will continue through every generation.

She wasn’t just the heart of our family; she was a part of what made our family feel like home.

Forever loved, deeply missed, and never forgotten.