Obituary-Catherine Nystrom
Catharine “Cathy” Maude (Pentelow) Nystrom passed away peacefully at her home in Dwight, Ontario on Friday, December 19, 2025. Cathy was the daughter of Howard Pentelow and Frances (Small) Pentelow and sister to Margaret Quayle predeceased. Cathy was born in Guelph, Ontario on July 22, 1930. She married her high school sweetheart Robert “Bob” Irving Nystrom, predeceased February 26, 2009, on April 16, 1949. Cathy was the proud mother of Steven Robert Nystrom (Susan), her daughter Diana Eileen Bell, proud grandmother of Lindsey Erin Harmsworth (Simon) and great grandmother of Mason and Riley Harmsworth.
Before Cathy’s first birthday, her family relocated to Waukegan, Illinois, where she would call home until she attended Purdue University. With Cathy’s never ending love of animals, she enrolled at Purdue in their Animal Husbandry course. She was also a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority and continued as an Alumni in Adrian, MI, until moving to Canada.
In the early 50’s, Cathy Bob, and their son Steve moved to Adrian, MI, where they would call home for the next 55 years, except in the summer months when they would move the family and animals to their summer home in Dwight, Ontario.
Cathy was very involved in the Adrian community. She was a member of the Adrian First Presbyterian Church, a member of the Lenawee Golf and Country club, a board member of the Lenawee County Humane Society, taught preschool swimming classes at the Lenawee YMCA, which she was awarded the Aquatic Volunteer Service Award in 1972 and she was also awarded the Siena Heights College Merit Award for services rendered in 1975-1976.
Cathy loved all animals and raised German Shepherds and Siamese cats. She entered dog shows and won the Highest Scoring German Shepherd trophy in 1952 at a Chicago dog show. She was also an artist who specialized in pastel dog head portraits and was commissioned by others to draw their dogs.
In 1904, Cathy’s Grandparents acquired property on Lake of Bays on Ten Mile Bay, Seabreeze Road. Cathy spent all her summers growing up at the family cottage and fell in love with the land. Over the years, the property was handed down to Cathy and her sister Margaret. In the late 70’s Cathy and Bob built their first permanent home on their property and started calling this home base. They spent Summers and part of Winter in Canada, then 3 months in Florida, with stop overs in Adrian between travels.
In 2000, Cathy a trustee of the Seabreeze United Church, started an 11 year campaign to have a columbarium built at the Seabreeze Cemetery. In 2011, Cathy’s dreams came true when approval was given to move forward with the project. Thanks to Cathy’s efforts, many long time property owners on Seabreeze Road have acquired niches in the columbarium for their final resting places.
Volunteer work was in Cathy’s blood and she became involved in any way she could to volunteer in the Dwight area. In 2005 she started her training in Therapeutic Touch and became a member of the Therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario. She provided her services to Muskoka Landing residents on a weekly basis until 2022, at health fairs and when ever she was asked to participate. Muskoka Landing awarded her with the Volunteer Recognition Award, picked by the Staff, in 2015. She volunteered as a Steward for the Lake of Bays Association (LOBA) until 2024, renewing yearly LOBA memberships on Seabreeze Road and convincing new property owners to become LOBA members. She was awarded Senior of the Year Award in 2017 from the Township of Lake of Bays for her contributions to the community after the age of 65.
Cathy volunteered with the Huntsville Animal Shelter until it closed in 2012.
Cathy’s hobbies and interests included anything to do with any animal or the outdoors, helping others through volunteering, travelling, golf, fishing, canoeing, hiking, bridge, skiing, cooking, gardening and entertaining.
At Cathy’s request, there will be no funeral services. Later, there will be a private memorial, where she will be laid to rest at the Seabreeze Church Columbarium with her husband Bob. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dwight Library, the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Hospice House Hospital or the Lenawee County Animal Shelter.
