Catherine Finlay Samose

Catherine passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026 after a long battle with dementia. The oldest of six and a self proclaimed Navy brat, Catherine was born in San Diego, CA and lived in Virginia, Connecticut and Rhode Island before settling in Connecticut where she attended UConn Storrs for a few years before meeting and marrying Richard Samose from Westport. (predeceased). They raised their three children in Weston and then Redding for the entirety of their upbringing. Catherine is also predeceased by brothers Robert and Jack, and brother in law Thomas Samose. She is survived by sisters Leslie and her husband David of New London, CT, Nancy and her husband Marvin of Mount Dora Fl, and Molly of Lubbock, TX. She is also survived by son Jason Samose of Camarillo, CA, daughter Emily Samose and her partner Dickie Mahaffey of Washington, D.C. and Bonnie Fitzpatrick and her husband Ryan of Townsend, MA. She will be greatly missed by grandchildren Nathan, Julia and Luke Samose and Caitlin and Abigail Fitzpatrick along with nieces, nephews and many extended family members. In recent years, Catherine moved to north central Massachusetts for living support and to be near her youngest daughter and two of her granddaughters. Catherine was a devoted mother; hosting playgroups, being an elementary school room parent, or “ driving all over creation” for swim team practice and other activities. Her love for her three children was undeniable. She took pride in her children’s dedication to swimming by writing articles about swim meets for hometown papers. The Bible, Bible study with friends, along with prayer and church service were paramount in her life, often reminding her loved ones “ don’t worry about anything; pray about everything.” Catherine loved to share that she was an actress and starred in several Westport Community Theater productions, some with her husband, Richard. Having left UConn in the 60s to start a family and raise her three kids, she decided to go back to the Stamford, CT campus in her ﬁfties where she worked hard and earned a degree in Communications in 2005. Becoming Grammy to her 5 grandchildren was a major highlight in her life and she was excited to keep in touch through weekly Skype or Facetime sessions and regular visits. “Whatever” became her “favorite word” and her grandchildren now love saying it just how she did, along with many other of her fun and catchy phrases and idioms. Her family is extremely happy that she is now reunited with Richard in eternal peace and look forward to honoring her life in a private family memorial later this spring. In lieu of ﬂowers please consider a donation to a charity or non-proﬁt that is important to you.

Tributes

Catherine Finlay Samose

April 30, 1946 - January 8, 2026