Catherine Ann Girard, 57, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, unexpectedly passed away on May 29, 2024.
She is survived by her parents, Vincent and Susan Girard of Southern Pines, North Carolina; her sister Elizabeth Girard and husband John Ferkany of Aberdeen, North Carolina; and her brother Gregory Girard, his wife Heather and their children Jackson and Ellie of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Catherine approached life with one motto: I can do it. Since she was a toddler refusing help while learning to ride a bike, Catherine believed the only thing stopping her from any achievement was a lack of determination. She graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, with a dual degree in marketing and Spanish. Her undergraduate career included two studies abroad, at the Universidad de Alicante in Alicante, Spain, and Ealing College in London, England.
After graduation, Catherine volunteered for the Covenant House, a national organization that provides immediate and long-term support for homeless youth. During this experience, she found her calling, dedicating her career to helping those most in need. It inspired her to return to school to earn her master’s of science in nursing from Yale University.
In addition to her private practice as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Catherine held several positions within the State of Connecticut health system, with her last position as Director of Nursing for the Department of Children and Families.
She will be remembered for her steadfast resolve; her limitless compassion; her contagious laugh; her marathon dog walks; and the unending joy she found sitting peacefully on the beach. While taken too soon, she will forever remain in the hearts and minds of all who were blessed to have known and loved her.
Catherine recently relocated to North Carolina to be close to family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness https://www.nami.org/ .
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