Funeral services were held last week at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church for Catherine Cassilly Crahan of Windsor Square, who passed away at her home on July 16, 2019. She was 85 years old.
Crahan moved to Los Angeles in 1954 with her first husband, Marcus Crahan, a native of Los Angeles. She soon became active in the neighborhood association, local nonprofits and her sons’ school. As a young resident, Crahan also reached out her young neighbor Anne Combs, also from the east coast, who had moved in to the house next door in 1961.
“Catherine took me under her wing,” Combs told the Buzz. “She knew what it was like to be newly married and not know a soul, and she offered to help me as much as she could. Catherine would go out of her way for people.”
Combs and Crahan became best friends over the years.
“Catherine was very determined person,” said Combs. “I always admired her tenacity and her spirit. She was a wonderful cook and a terrific entertainer. She had so much energy.”
Fluff McLean, who was also a neighbor, told the Buzz that she got to know Crahan through various volunteer organizations, and that even though Crahan was busy with her four sons, she would also step up and volunteer to help.
“She had a heart that was very big,” said McLean. “She was a good friend.”
According to an obituary published in the Baltimore Sun, Crahan is survived by her 4 sons, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild, Marcus and his wife Cyndi, their daughters Catherine and Christine, and granddaughter Emerson; John Crahan; Thomas and his wife Laura, their children Caitlin, Thomas, and Claire; and Barnaby and his wife Sarah, along with their children Jacob, Dylan and Luke.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Homeboy Industries.
So sorry to hear the news Catherine was my first client on Larchmont 40 yrs ago and remained a friend ever since. I will miss her