DELORIS CATANIA

 Deloris Catania, 89, of Coloma and St. Joseph, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. She was born on her grandparents’ farm in Hartford Township, Michigan, to Wilbur and Gladys Smith. She grew up in Watervliet and graduated from Watervliet High School in 1954 among the top 10 in her class.

 When other young women were marrying right out of high school, Deloris moved “into town,” residing at the Eleanor Club in Benton Harbor and taking a job as the secretary for Attorney Elizabeth Forhan. In 1957, she began working in the Benton Harbor Municipal Court office. In 1962, she was appointed by the Benton Harbor City Commission to the role of municipal court clerk.

 Deloris married Donald Kraklau in 1965. They built a home in St. Joseph and had one daughter, Laura. Deloris left her job with the municipal court to be a stay-at-home mom shortly before Laura was born.

 In 1975, she returned to the workforce, this time with the U.S. Postal Service. She began her postal career at the Watervliet Post Office and later transferred to the Coloma Post Office. She worked with the post office until 1998 when she retired after more than 23 years of serving her community.

 During this time, following her marriage to Don, Deloris married Bernie Catania and moved to Coloma. They enjoyed traveling and camping up north until Bernie passed in 1995.

 Her love of exploring and learning continued into retirement. She traveled frequently, visiting the West Coast, the Mountain States, Mackinac Island, and lighthouses throughout the Great Lakes. She had an artistic eye, beautifully renovating her home in Coloma, creating well-planned landscapes, dabbling in photography, and expressing her creativity through scrapbooking, cross stitch, and sewing. Deloris also donated many hours volunteering with the North Berrien Senior Center, driving those without transportation to doctor appointments.

 Deloris enjoyed live music and entertainment, regularly attending performances at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center and on trips through the senior center. Her love of animals also ran deep, with a feline companion or two by her side for the better part of four decades.

 Deloris is survived by her daughter Laura Kraklau (Thad Rieder). She was preceded in death by her parents, Don, Bernie, and her beloved cats Tiger, Oliver, Molly I, and Molly II.

 The family is grateful to the memory care team at Woodland Terrace – Bridgman and Corewell Hospice for the care, love, compassion, and dignity provided to Deloris over the past few years.

 Cremation has taken place. Private burial will be held in Watervliet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Arts Factor Fund c/o Lake Michigan College, 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI, 49022. Or, Berrien County Animal Services, 1400 S. Euclid Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI, 49022.

 Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.