Catherine Dren passed away peacefully on Monday, November 23, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Cathy was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania to the late Catherine (Thomas) and John Danjanic. After a three-year romance, she married Dr. Anthony Dren on August 5, 1961 and they enjoyed more than 59 years together. Cathy received her Bachelor of Education Degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA where she performed extensively as a pianist and string-instrument musician, vocalist and featured dancer with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans.

Cathy’s teaching career spanned more than 40 years. She retired in 1998 after an exemplary, primary-grade teaching career in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Waukegan, Illinois and Raleigh, North Carolina She had a lifelong love of classical piano compositions and Eastern European folk music and dance routines and volunteered extensively as a folk dance instructor. She was active as church volunteer and music minister at a number of parishes within the communities where she lived and worked.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents, John and Catherine Danjanic. She is survived by Tony, her husband of nearly 60 years; her children, Christina (Kurt) Larkins , Michael (Carolyn), Mary Beth (David) Waggoner and Amy Kathleen; sisters Joanne Connelly and Carol (James) McCarl; seven grandchildren (Nicole, Charlton, David, Jack, Victoria, Anthony, Olivia); and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Cathy’s life and Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 11, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Cathy had a lifelong appreciation of the full university performance scholarship provided her by the Duquesne University Tamburitzans and, with her husband, has created three tuition-endowed scholarships for Tamburitzans students at Duquesne University. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that donations be made in Cathy’s name to: The Tamburitzans, c/o PIFAI Endowed Scholarship Fund, 1430 Superior Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/nc/raleigh/catherine-marie-dren-11799004 for the Dren family