Cathryn E. Parker

Cathryn (“Cathy”) Eleanor Parker passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on July 17, 2024. She was the heart of our family: the cherished wife of Barry Manning, loving mother of her “bunnies,” Mari and Chelsea, and devoted Grammy to her five fur-children. Cathryn was born on May 6, 1956 in Detroit to Carole Eleanor Parker and William Edward Parker. Having grown up alongside her younger brother, Jerry, and sister, Caryn, she also had loving relationships with her half-sisters, Jill and Christy. As a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Cathryn’s faith was at the core of what made her who she was. It grounded her and allowed her a remarkable peace and strength through decades of health struggles, raising twins who somehow managed to wreak havoc in most of their waking moments, and finally during her brief bout with cancer. The legacy Cathryn leaves with us is the unconditional love she had for her friends & family. A caretaker and helper, she always showed up in times of need, provided a mother’s love to so many more than just her own children, and lived a life of service, both personally and professionally. She cared so deeply for all of us, and the imprint of her love will never be forgotten. The life she lived was bigger than these words could possibly contain. Her career as a therapist, her ongoing work with Youth Living Center (now Starfish Family Services), her hit (and sometimes miss!) baking skills, her absolute love of reading, her soft spot for animals (even allowing a deformed chicken to share the family home in the summer of 2003), the handmade Halloween costumes she made every year… she was simply magic. Her kindness, subtle humor, calming nature, and everything about her will be tremendously and endlessly missed. Visitation will be at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home (46401 Ann Arbor Road West) on Friday, July 26th from 2-8 PM. A funeral service for Cathryn will be held at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, on Saturday, July 27th at 10:30 AM. Entombment will be at Glen Eden Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, we encourage memorial donations to Starfish Family Services. Donations are accepted via the following link: https://www.starfishfamilyservices.org/make-a-donation/ or may be mailed to Atten: Development Department, 3000 Hiveley Street, Inkster, MI 48141. We would love any memories of Cathryn you’re willing to share in the “share a memory” tab on this webpage

Cathryn E. Parker

May 6, 1956 - July 17, 2024