Cathy Sue Beard
September 14, 1948 ~ December 18, 2025
Cathy S. Beard, 77, passed away suddenly from a rare disease on December 18, 2025, in Painesville, Ohio. Cathy was born in Riverview, Michigan to Henry and Elaine Beard and spent her childhood through high school growing up in Michigan. As a young woman, she joined her parents and 3 younger siblings who relocated to Glenview, Illinois. Cathy attended Western Illinois University and after completing 2 years of studies, moved to Falls Church, Virgina. Cathy then moved overseas to Kaiserslautern, Germany where she lived for several years before returning to the US. Back in Illinois, Cathy returned to Western Illinois University and earned a Business Administration degree. Following a brief move to Munster, Indiana, Cathy again returned to the Chicago area and completed her Masters in Historical studies from the City Colleges of Chicago. She then became a teacher and coached the basketball team at a Chicago alternative high school. Continuing to teach, Cathy relocated and put down roots in Painesville, Ohio.
In 1991, Cathy was diagnosed with breast cancer and participated in advance clinical studies for the disease. In 2004 she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Surviving both cancers, Cathy was recently diagnosed and struggling with Alzheiemer’s.
Cathy was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her 5 siblings: Henry Beard of Milan, Michigan; Mike (Sheilagh) Beard of Barrie, Ontario, Canada; David Beard (Alice Cottingham) of Oak Park, Illinois; Christopher (Lois) Beard of Antioch, Illinois; and Stacey Beard (Roland Galloway) of Avondale, Arizona.
Cathy is also survived by 9 nieces and nephews: Jesse Beard of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Eryn (Christopher) Paust of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; John (Donna) Petras of Queen Creek, Arizona; Erik (Stacie) Beard of Avon, Connecticut; Douglas Beard of Milan, Michigan; Allison Fournier (Tom Rose) of Superior Township, Michigan; Adrienne (Eric) West of Knoxville, Tennessee; Sam (Abby) Cottingham-Beard of Glendale, Wisconsin and Anastasia (Jesse) Layne of Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Cathy will be remembered for her love of cats; world history; her family’s genealogy; playing and watching basketball and baseball games; and enjoying quiet evenings at home watching TV with her family and pets.
The family does not wish to receive flowers.