Catherine G. (Nemec) Daugherty

Catherine G. "Kay" Daugherty, 91, of Herminie, passed away Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in Paramount Senior Living, Seven Fields. She was born April 16, 1924, in Hempfield Township. Kay was the devoted mother of Dr. Kathryn Daughertypenn (Dr. William), of Cranberry, and the late James F. Daugherty Jr., of Kingwood, W. Va., (Beverly), and loving grandmother of James S. Daugherty (Stephanie), of Clayton, N.C., Michele Corbin (Jason), of Fairmont, W. Va., and Renee Stonebraker, of Kingwood, W. Va. She was the proud and loving great-grandmother of James Cole and Kaylie Daugherty, Madison and Jacob Corbin and Bryson Stonebraker. The daughter of Frank J. Nemec Sr. and Mary (Grabiak) Nemec, Kay was a lifelong resident of Herminie. After her graduation from Sewickley High School, she earned a business degree from Robert Morris School of Business in 1942. In 1975, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree (Cum Laude) from Seton Hill University and, in 1977, a Master of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Kay's creativity and enthusiasm was reflected in her many life achievements. She began her career as an executive secretary for Westinghouse Electric Corporation in East Pittsburgh. During World War II, she left her secretarial job to work (in the genre of Rosie the Riveter) as an assembler at Westinghouse Airbrake in Wilmerding. She met her husband, James F. Daugherty, at a fairwell party for women workers when the servicemen returned and resumed their former jobs at Westinghouse. Over a subsequent 20-year period, Kay worked as a successful real estate broker and manager of Daugherty Construction with her husband while pursuing her collegiate studies in education. She loved her teaching career which spanned a 30-year period at Sacred Heart School in Jeannette, Immaculate Conception in Irwin, and substitute work in the Hempfield and Yough School districts. Kay was also a music enthusiast and ran a successful guitar school. Her passion for education, particularly mathematics and social learning, was reflected in professional publication and public speaking. She embraced the philosophy of Leo Buscaglia and presented a series of lectures to parent groups on the importance of love and respect in human relationships. Kay was a lifelong member of St. Edward's Catholic Church where she also served as a substitute teacher. She was also a lifelong member of the SNPJ in Herminie. Kay was preceded in death by her son, James F. Daugherty Jr.; her parents; her husband of 42 years, James F. Daugherty Sr.; and her siblings, Frank Nemec, Mary Mazero, Lawrence Nemec, Dr. John Nemec, Dorothy Smarra, Joseph Nemec and Gertrude Andrewson. In addition to her children, she is survived by her sisters, Florence Cassini, Virginia Schrock, and several nieces and nephews. The family expresses gratitude to Paramount Senior Living and Paramount Hospice Care for the loving and compassionate care given to Kay. Friends will be received from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the JOSEPH W. NICKELS FUNERAL HOME INC., 404 Sewickley Ave., Herminie, PA 15637, 724-446-7251. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Edward Church in Herminie. Interment will follow in Westmoreland Count Memorial Park, Hempfield Township. www.nickelsfuneralhomeinc.co

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