Memorial
Catherine R. Petersen passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Hiawatha. Memorial Visitation will be Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 9:00 am until the 11:00 am Memorial Service at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories in Cedar Rapids. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Catherine Peterson, under the video tab starting at 11:00 am, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Entombment is private.
She was born on April 17, 1960, in Cedar Rapids, IA, to Edward and Rosemary (Cano) Gorman. Catherine worked as an Elementary school teacher in Cedar Rapids and then became a stay-at-home mother to Sarah. Catherine loved shopping with her daughter, cooking, traveling with family, scrapbooking, watching Iowa Hawkeye’s athletics and participating in Bible study. Faith and family were at the center of her life. She lived with unwavering positivity and was a light to everyone who knew her, bringing warmth and joy in all that she did.
Catherine is survived by her spouse of 42 years: Jon Petersen; children: Sarah Smith (Kyle Smith husband); grandchildren: Mason Smith and Noah Smith; sibling: Christine Bogucki (sister).
She is preceded in death by her parents: Rosemary and Edward Gorman and granddaughter: Maya Smith (Maya is a granddaughter who was stillborn).