MADISON — Jody Catalano served a vital role for those in her family and beyond.
As a mother, her family said she pushed her children to succeed and strongly advocated for her daughter, who is on the autistic spectrum.
To her husband, she was a partner who helped him think about situations in a different perspective.
To her father, she was a people person who was just beginning to hit her stride in her professional life.
Catalano, a 52-year-old Madison woman who died in a snowmobiling accident in Vermont last week, left behind family and friends who are trying to cope without her.
Her husband, Mike Catalano, said she was in Vermont with a friend from one of her coffee groups — looking to have a little time away. He said she really enjoyed snowmobiling, and had not done so in a long time.
“It was something she was looking forward to,” he said. “She liked Vermont. We used to go to Vermont all the time. This was an opportunity for her to get away, decompress for a couple days and have some fun.”
Catalano said his wife was a devoted mother who loved her children and was always there to support them, whether that meant in the audience at a choir concert or working the concession stand at a sporting event.
“She was very proud of all of them,” he said.
Catalano said she worked tirelessly to get the best services for their daughter, Gianna.
“She taught me how to be strong and stick up for yourself,” Gianna said.
Gianna, 21, said she and her mom liked to spend quality time together, and took mommy-daughter trips.
“We would go like once a year to Florida — just me and her,” she said. “We would also get our nails done, get coffee sometimes and take walks.”
Mikey Catalano, a 19-year-old and the oldest of Jody’s two sons, said his mom meant everything to him and his brother, but she was Gianna’s world.
“I will be as big of an advocate for my sister for my entire life,” he said. “Without that push that my mom had, Gianna wouldn’t have access to half the stuff she has access to.”
Like the rest of his family, Mikey said his mother made sure everything in the Catalano house ran smoothly.
“I don’t know how we would have functioned in this house without her,” he said. “How stuff would have ever gotten done or how people would have gotten places. She was on top of it.”
When he has a family, Mikey says he plans to take all the pages out of his mom’s book. He said he was extremely grateful for everything she did.
Mikey said his mom always found time to text him when he was on break from work and ask if he wanted to go out for lunch.
“It was really because I think we wanted to see each other succeed in the best ways possible,” he said. “We were both independent kids when we were growing up. She said she was just like me when she grew up. We never wanted to see each other fail and would do anything to prevent that.”
Mikey said he was just getting home when the police notified the family of his mother’s death.
Mikey said his mom taught him to be an advocate, and help others in many ways.
“I put a lot of other people before me, and sometimes that’s not a good thing, but I value that,” he said. “I think I really got it from watching her. She was a teacher. She worked with people with disabilities — and my sister. She would always put those kids first.”
When thinking about special memories of his mother, Mikey said it is the little things that come to mind. With opposite work schedules, things like going to lunch and watching television together meant a lot.
Jody was also a group home manager for the nonprofit Sarah-Tuxis, which provides services to those with disabilities.
Mike Catalano, who married Jody in 1997, said she loved working with the individuals in her home.
Catalano said he proposed to her on a trip to France, at the Eiffel Tower. He said they were “opposites,” adding that he was the free-wheeler and she was more grounded.
“It wound up fitting really well,” he said. “We worked well together. She was beautiful. She had a wonderful smile. I was really smitten with her.”
He said Jody did everything for their kids, and made sure they had everything they needed. He said she loved traditions, especially making cinnamon rolls on holidays and birthdays.
Jody’s happy place, Mike said, was at the beach with a good book. He said she also liked to take walks on the beach in Madison.
Another way Jody liked to spend her time, Mike said, was getting together with friends for coffee at Starbucks. He said she was always great at staying in touch with people, and that her coffee groups would frequently go down to East Wharf Beach Park to chat.
“She was kind of a fixture,” he said. “She was really attuned to making sure she connected to people who she knew needed attention. The funny thing is that she really was an introvert ... but she was a really good friend to people and she always was the one to make sure she had time for people.”
Jody’s father, George Hall, said she was at a point in life when she was just “bursting” and hitting her stride professionally.
“She was a people person — both professionally and personally,” he said. “She was great at just walking in a room and seeking out the person who might not have a big smile on his or her face. Jody could take care of that.”
Mike said Jody was an empathetic, friendly and a fierce advocate for her daughter and others with special needs who needed support and encouragement.
“She was a really good friend to a lot of people,” he said.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Jody Catalano to Autism Services & Resource Connecticut. Donations can be made on its website.
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