Nona M. O’Brien Cathcart
On
August 18, 1886, Nona M. O’Brien was born in Peru, Indiana. She was the daughter of a bartender and her
grandparents were Irish Immigrants. On
November 19, 1910, she married Herbert Cathcart. During
the formation of Dukes, Hospital Nona
was involved with fundraising for that organization. In 1918 when
Gertrude
Thiebaud left the Miami County area Nona replaced Gertrude as recording
secretary for the Miami County Red Cross.
Nona was a popular woman who was prominent in church
circles. Her charitable work continued
throughout her
life. During the depression, she was in
charge of a sewing project in which clothing was made available to the
needy. Tragedy struck her life in 1939
when on her 53rd birthday her husband took his life.
But Nona bounced back because in the 1940’s
she was again the executive secretary for the Miami County Red Cross
and
continued in this role until 1958. For
many years Nona taught Sunday School at the First Baptist Church. In May 1962, the local chapter of the Red
Cross gave special recognition to Nona’s contributions at their annual
award
dinner. On July 14, 1962, Central Indiana lost an angel when Nona M.
O’Brien
Cathcart died at Marion General Hospital.
She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Works Cited
“Mrs. Nona Cathcart, Civic Leader, Dies Saturday At
Marion.” Unknown Newspaper. Clipping
date or paper source not known
“Peru Man Ends Life; Body Is Found In Auto.” Peru Daily Tribune, 18 Aug. 1939.
“Rites Monday For Mrs. Nona Cathcart Red Cross
Executive.” Peru Republican, 19 July
1962.
“ ‘United States Census, 1900," Database with
Images, FamilySearch
(Https://Familysearch.org/Ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTT7-C1L?Cc=1325221&Wc=9BQP-MNG%3A1030552501%2C1033690801%2C1034691501
: 5 August 2014), Indiana > Miami > ED 106 Peru Township Peru City Ward 4
> Image 16 of 36; Citing NARA Microfilm Publication T623 (Washington, D.C.:
National Archives and Records Administration, N.d.).”
