Obituary

Desiree Dea Jarrett Catalano
Sept 14, 1956 – Mar 11, 2022

Desiree was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in February 2020; she fought and defeated it in August 2020 after being in hospice. She was officially declared cancer free in July 2021. By November 2021, the cancer had metastasized in the brain. Between December and February she underwent a craniotomy, and 6 radiation treatments. We all felt like she had again defeated this awful, terrible, monstrous killer. But in February the cancer came back in the brain with a vengeance that surprised even the most seasoned Oncologists. On Friday March 11, Desiree Catalano passed away very peacefully.

Desiree was the most kind and gentle person that anyone could meet. I have had several calls from people who knew her, who said to me, “Desiree made me feel so special. She made me feel loved. She gave me my wings to fly”.

She definitely saw the world differently than most other people. I told her for many, many, years that I was going to give her an epithet that read, “She had her own patented shade of Rose-Colored glasses through which she viewed the world”. And while she had dyslexia, at times it could be a blessing. When a sign said NO ENTRANCE, she read as PLEASE ENTER HERE. And no one turned her away!!!

Desiree loved waterfalls and the ocean and any body of water. She carried a bathing suit in her car because she said she just never knew when a body of water would call to her.

She had some very strong feelings about the plastic pollution in the ocean as well as other bodies of water. Anyone who spent time with Desiree in the outdoors was witness to her constant picking up of litter, garbage or discarded items only to be found later in the vehicle waiting for proper disposal.

Desiree absolutely didn’t want a traditional funeral. Even though we all feel great emptiness and mourn for ourselves, she wanted us to throw a PARTY! And that is what we will do. We are planning a special Celebration of Desiree’s life to be held at Adventures on the Gorge (formerly CLASSVI) with music, dancing, open bar, and a strong emphasis on desserts to honor her philosophy of “Always eat dessert first”.

Please see her memorial page www.ForeverMissed.com/Desiree-Dea-Catalano for details about service and Celebration