Catherine “Cathie” Lutz Wagenbrenner of Houston, TX died peacefully of natural causes in the wee hours of Saturday, October 26, 2024. Cathie was born to Domenica “Mae” (Cascio) and Joseph Ronald Lutz in Astoria, Queens, NY on February 5, 1936.

 After graduation from Hunter High School in Manhattan in 1953, Cathie married the love of her life, William “Bill” Wagenbrenner in 1955 while he was deployed with the Army in Germany. After additional trips to Europe and back, they settled in New Milford, CT and later in West Pawlet, VT.

Cathie enjoyed traveling and spent many quiet days on beaches reading novels or searching for shells. She also enjoyed music and regularly attended the opera. She loved languages and words and was a cutthroat scrabble player.

Together with her husband and children she gardened persistently, growing much of their own produce for a number of years. She also enjoyed doing crafts, helping with house projects, and being a homemaker. She had a witty and dry sense of humor and often stated she was “just here for the fun.”

Cathie is survived by her sister Elizabeth “Liz” Lutz (Catherine) of Astoria, NY; her four children: Anne Wagenbrenner of Huntington, NY; Maria Abonnel (Charles) of Cortlandt Manor, NY; Carol Hartupee (Brian) of Houston, TX; and Joe Wagenbrenner (Christi) of Arcata, CA; and two grandchildren, Eric and Conner Hartupee.

Cathie is also survived by many beloved cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends she made throughout her life.

She is predeceased by her parents; husband Bill (2006); and brother Peter Lutz (2021).

Visitation will be held at Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home, 414 Washington Street, Peekskill, NY on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Interment to follow at Assumption Cemetery in Cortland, NY on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 1130 am

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Audubon Society in her memory.