Cathy Jo Speakman, age 60, of Ontario passed away early Wednesday morning, March 20, 2024, at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. She valiantly battled pancreatic cancer for 2 1⁄2 years and is now finally at rest.
She was born August 6, 1963, in Canton, Ohio, to the late Mary (Featheringham) and William “Bill” Patchin and grew up alongside her only sister, Linda. Cathy graduated from Glen Oak High School where she began a lifelong passion of attending concerts with her friends-a tradition she continued throughout her life. She was attracted to the health care field from a young age and she made that passion a reality. Cathy attended Walsh College and later graduated from Mansfield General Hospital School of Nursing. She worked at OhioHealth Shelby hospital alongside her OB sisters in the Obstetrics Department most of her career. She was blessed to have had the opportunity to help deliver all of her grandchildren during her career.
Cathy enjoyed vacationing at the beach, Amazon shopping, camping, and lovingly tending to her plants and flowers. Most special of all was spending time with her children and grandchildren. In 2010, she met her husband, Dave Speakman and they married on April 22, 2011. They shared a wonderful—if all too brief—life together. She was an avid fan of Thomas Kinkade and collected many items created by him. Like Thomas Kinkade’s paintings, she had a light that shined deep within her for all to see and her devotion to family, friends and patients was a gift beyond comprehension. Cathy’s love language was gift giving and she searched for and selected the perfect gift for the people special to her.
She is survived by her husband, Dave Speakman; two sons, Brandon (Megan) Grant and Corey (Jordan) Grant; two step children, Amanda (James) Holbrook and Ashley (Jordan) Jenkins; seven grandchildren, Remi, Riley, Hudson and Holden Grant, Gabrian Sharp and Keanu and Kensington Jenkins; and her sister, Linda Patchin (David) Thomas.
A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25, 2024, in Wappner Funeral Directors-Ontario, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road.
Words of condolence may be expressed at www.wappner.com