Cathy Burmeister

Cathy Burmeister, aged 62, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2024, in her home in Kennebunkport. Born Jan. 2, 1962, the youngest child of Richard and Mary Lou Burmeister, she was raised with her four siblings in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

From a young age, Cathy excelled as a three-sport athlete, with all-regional honors in volleyball, softball, and basketball throughout her high school years. Her talents in softball and volleyball continued at the University of New Hampshire, reflecting her enduring dedication to athletics. In recognition of her achievements, Cathy was inducted into the Naugatuck Hall of Fame in 2000.

At UNH, Cathy earned her BS degree in health administration and an MBA from Plymouth State College. Cathy forged a 22-year career at Concord Hospital, initially in accounting and later, in the IT department. And it was in 1993 that Cathy undertook her most important role, that of motherhood, with the birth of her daughter Abby.

Cathy met her partner Susan in 2006, and they were together for 11 years before marrying in 2017. Shortly after, they retired to Kennebunkport to embrace coastal living. Cathy immersed herself in local activities like pickleball, biking, and kayaking, and found solace in the nearby ocean.

Cathy approached life with a unique blend of practicality and creativity. She was known for rescuing furniture and giving it new life. She tackled challenging home improvement projects and concluded with a “good enough” that often surpassed others’ notions of “perfect.” Like a hummingbird, she was beautiful to watch – always in perpetual motion, accomplishing tasks with high energy and efficiency. In the kitchen she was equally inventive, blending multiple recipes to create unique, delicious dishes that were impossible to replicate.

Cathy’s kind and thoughtful nature fostered many lifelong friendships. Even while enduring an aggressive ovarian cancer, she never let it dominate her conversations. Instead, she focused on others, genuinely caring about their well-being. Her grace and strength inspired many.

Cathy is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her wife Susan Streiff, daughter Abigail (Ross) Styles, sister Carroll (Jose) Pereira, and brothers William (Margit), Paul (Roberta), and Jeffrey Burmeister.

A celebration of life will be held on Aug. 24 at Sea Road Church, Kennebunk,. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jimmy Fund Walk to support ovarian cancer research in Cathy’s name via check (mail to Jimmy Fund Walk, 10 Brookline Place, Brookline MA 02445 — write Team Cat in the memo line) or online at http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/TeamCat.

To share a memory, or leave a message of condolence, please visit Cathy’s page at www.legacy.com.