Cathleen T. Baptista, 70, of Edison, NJ, passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at RWJUH in New Brunswick following a recent accidental fall.

Born in Elizabeth, NJ, Cathy spent much of her life in Edison and Highland Park before returning to Edison 25 years ago. She was a proud graduate of St. Mary's High School in Perth Amboy, Class of 1972.

Cathy dedicated over 13 years as an Office Administrator at Zocks Accounting before retiring eight years ago. Earlier in her career, she worked as a bartender and waitress at several establishments, including the Armory in Perth Amboy—where she met her beloved husband, Amadeu—and later at the Fulton in Rahway.

A gifted artist, Cathy had a remarkable talent for painting, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Everything she created reflected her artistic touch and love for beauty. A lifelong communicant of Our Lady of Peace RC Church in Fords, she also found great joy in music, especially listening to Frank Sinatra alongside the Count Basie Orchestra.

Cathy was predeceased by her parents, Warren Saunderson and Eleanor Chiera, her brother, Thomas Saunderson, who passed away in 1984, as well as her Stepfather Joseph Chiera.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Amadeu Baptista; her brothers, Russell Saunderson and his wife, Cathy Cacchione-Saunderson, and Warren Saunderson, Jr., Stepmother Eleanor Saunderson, and stepsisters Cindy Lillis and Chris Almasy; several cherished nieces and nephews; many cousins, and her faithful Basset Hound, "Chairman of the Board."

Services:
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Flynn and Son/Mitruska Funeral Home, 23 Ford Ave., Fords, NJ 08863.
A funeral service will take place on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the funeral home, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Liturgy at Our Lady of Peace RC Church in Fords. Interment will follow at St. James Cemetery in Woodbridge.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Cathy's memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or your local ASPCA chapter, two causes close to her heart.