Catherine "Cathy" Engbrock Brannies was born on November 10, 1940. She went home to Heaven on January 8, 2025 at the age of 84, to join her family and friends who had gone before her.

Cathy was raised in Seguin by her loving parents, Robert Lee "Obie" and Irene "Mimi" Engbrock and enjoyed a wonderful early life with her loving, little sister Sue Ann. She attended St. James school grades 1 - 8 where she developed a life long love for books, and went on to spend a wonderful life of "escape" into thousands of books.

She graduated from Seguin High School in 1958 and obtained her Registered Nursing Diploma from Seton Nursing School in Austin and then she spent a lifetime caring for others. She started her career as a surgical nurse at M.D. Anderson in Houston before returning to Seguin where she worked for a short time at Guadalupe Valley Hospital. She then went on to work at The Medical Center for a group of physicians for 20 years, and then for the next 20 years she was the Nurse at Seguin High School where she not only cared for the students, but also the staff.

After her retirement, Cathy enjoyed traveling with her Supper Club, who were lifelong friends. Along with the Heinemeyer's, Vetter's, Ellis's, and See's she enjoyed many vacations to beautiful Caribbean Islands. With her friend, Marge Squires, she went on trips all over the world, including Alaska, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Great Wall of China. She also enjoyed the simple family trips to Rockport. For the last few years when Cathy couldn't leave home, her lifelong friend Judy Johnson Hyatt and a new friend Mickey Peoples, visited regularly and brought her much joy.

Cathy was a kind and compassionate nurse and friend who went out of her way to lend a helping hand to those in need. "Sweet" was the most often used word to describe her. She was a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church as well as a proud alum and supporter of St. James School. She was also an active member in the Service Organization, Beta Sigma Phi.

Cathy is preceded in death by her parents Robert Lee and Irene Engbrock as well as many aunts and uncles.

Survivors include the Father of her two daughters, Ken Brannies; daughters, Kendra Brannies Gibbs (Jeffrey), and Gina Brannies Moore (Tyler); sister, Sue Ann Engbrock Woytek Balusek; nieces, Margie Woytek Maxwell (Jim), Rebecca Woytek, Jennifer Woytek Nagel (Tom), nephew, Jonathan Woytek (Patricia), as well as numerous great nephews and many cherished friends.

Visitation will begin on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church followed by the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Canon Stanislaw Fiuk officiating.  A reception will follow in the St. James Parish Hall.

Private interment will be held in the family plot at St. James Catholic Church Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the two most amazing caretakers that have become a part of our family. Mona Pantoja and Sylvia Almaguer cared for our Mother with more love and kindness than you can imagine. Because of these two ladies our Mother's last several years were filled with happiness and light.  Mona and Sylvia called her "Sweet Cathy" and told her she had beautiful sparkling eyes, and they kept a smile on her face to the very end.

The family would also like to thank GRMC Hospice including Dr. Charles Nolan and his assistant Kay Lynn Hawkins, hospice nurses Cat Smith, Linda Hall and Sara Vogel, Social Worker Carmen Anderson, and Chaplain Emmanuel Carpenter for their excellent care and support.

The family would also like to thank Maritza Miller, the Eucharistic Minister from St. James for bringing weekly communion, but also for bringing so much laughter, joy and friendship into Cathy's life.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. James Catholic School, 507 S. Camp St., Seguin, Texas, 78155, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, WEB PO Box 7410354, Chicago, IL 60674-0354 or Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Hospice Services, 1215 E. Court St., Seguin, Texas, 78155.