Catherine "Cathy" Gail Gilbert

Poland - Catherine "Cathy" Gail Gilbert, 51, of Poland, died Monday, July 14, 2008 at the Hospice House after an extended battle with breast cancer. Cathy was born August 20, 1956 in Portland, Oregon, a daughter of Vinson and Marian Billeter Sly. She grew up in Oregon and moved to San Diego in 1982 until 1988 when she and her husband moved to Princeton, New Jersey. In 1990, they moved to Sandy, Utah until 1997 and then resided in Kentwood, MI until moving to Poland in the summer of 2007. Cathy was a graduate of West High School in Portland and received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Seattle Pacific College. She worked as a registered nurse in the ICU at Providence Hospital in Portland, the ICU and Cardiac Surgery Department at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, CA, in the phlebotomy and oncology departments at Princeton Medical Center in Princeton, New Jersey, the University of Utah Cardiac Surgery Team, and most recently for Spectrum Health Medical Systems in Grand Rapids, MI, where she worked as a member of the Infection Control Department. She was a member of American Nursing Association. Cathy was a member of the Poland Presbyterian Church, where her husband is Senior Pastor. Her biggest joy was loving and caring for her family and she was a wonderful mom and wife. Cathy was a woman of faith with a joyous spirit and a great sense of humor. Her interests included gardening, cooking, attending reading groups, hiking, and her many friendships. She is survived by her parents, Vinson and Marian Sly of Portland; her husband, Rev. Dr. David E. Gilbert, whom she married April 14, 1984; two sons, Geoffrey Gilbert of Ann Arbor, MI and Daniel Gilbert, at home; two brothers, Steven (Sarah) Sly of Cottage Grove, OR and Marshall (Sharon) Sly of Beaver, OR; and one aunt, Margaret Billeter of Lake Oswego, OR. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, David and Lydia Billeter; and her paternal grandparents, Roma and Marie Sly. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Poland Presbyterian Church with Rev. Daniel Schomer, General Presbyter of Eastminster Presbytery, Rev. Gerald Fennell, and Rev. David Shriver, both of Poland Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery. Friends will be received Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland and Friday from 12:30- 1:45 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Danny Gilbert College Fund, in c/o of Poland Presbyterian Church, 2 Poland Manor Drive, Poland, OH 44514. Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.

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