Obituary of Catherine Helen Bevilacqua

Catherine Helen (McLaughlin) Bevilacqua, of Massapequa, NY, died on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at Bristal Assisted Living in Bethpage. She was 83. She was born on October 9, 1939, in Queens, New York. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic Academy of Glendale as a youth and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in the School of Education at New York University in 1962. While there she was also an elite athlete and NCAA swimmer and eventually became an AAU swimming champion. In 1962, she married Albert Bevilacqua, Jr., and together they had 6 children: Christopher (Kristen), Barbara (Joe), Kevin (Elyse), Michael (Stacey), Nora (Ryan), and Erin (Alex). She was defined by her faith and unwavering commitment to her children, her animals, and later to the families each would create, which includes 18 grandchildren, a great granddaughter, and dozens of cats and dogs. A unique soul, Catherine was passionate about helping others and doing what was right. She always had an open door policy and routinely welcomed friends of her children into their home and family swimming pool. Catherine is survived by her loving husband Albert and children, as well as her sister, Barbara Brault, and was predeceased by her parents Bernard and Helen McLauglin and her brother Dr. Thomas McLaughlin. 

The family will receive guests at Powell Funeral Home [67 Broadway, Amityville, NY] on September 29, 2023 from 9 - 10 AM. A funeral mass at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church will follow at 10:30 AM with a burial at the Amityville Cemetery (55 Harrison Avenue). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the North Shore Animal League in her honor.