"I thank God for Each One of You. Your Presence and Your Love, the Ups and Downs of each of Your Hearts and Lives and for Those who have gone before Us. May Each One of Us do Our Best to bring Love and Peace to All who have come into Our Lives. Now and Forever ~ You are in my Heart and Prayers~"
-- Catherine R. Lepoutre
Circles of Love -- Toujours, Always, Forever
Catherine Lepoutre, née Rocherolle, was born in Paris, France, the eldest of six children, daughter of Guy and Monique (Lyon) Rocherolle. She lived 92 years, a life rich in experiences and joy, sharing her warmth with all who knew her. Her smile, ever radiant, touched many hearts.
Catherine met her beloved Roger in Groton Long Point, CT, Catherine and Roger married on February 16,1952, and together they built a life full of love and purpose. Their 47-year marriage was a cornerstone for their four children, Richard, Christophe, Maryse, and Clement, and they were blessed to witness the lives of 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Roger and Catherine’s unwavering commitment to each other and their faith served as an inspiration to many. They were active members of their Cursillo group and devoted contributors to the community at St. Catherine of Siena in Riverside, CT. Catherine’s faith evolved, influenced by the daily meditations of Fr. Richard Rohr, Center of Action and Contemplation. Over 10 years ago, she became part of the faith community at First Congregational Church of Greenwich.
Catherine often spoke with great pride about the day she became an American citizen in 1952— a day she considered more significant than her own birthday. Fluent in both French, her mother tongue, and English, which she learned in her early years, Catherine seamlessly navigated two cultures throughout her life.
A passionate artist, Catherine expressed her creativity through various mediums, including linoleum block printing, felt, stain glass, oils, collage, gouache, and watercolors. Her style of, “Let the colors and water flow. They’ll speak to you,” guided her work, earning her recognition in several juried art shows, with jurors from major New York art museums. She had a unique ability as her art reflected her keen eye for the spectacular in nature.
Catherine was a thoughtful and engaging conversationalist, always offering fresh perspectives and challenging conventional thinking. Her spiritual journey was deeply influenced by her grandmother, Bilum, and she embraced many religious ideas, often saying, “After all, we all have the same God.”
For years, Catherine made her kitchen the heart of the home, preparing delicious meals and hosting lively, meaningful conversations around the dining table. Her wisdom was abundant. After many years in the kitchen exclaiming, “Been there, done that,” she found joy in simplicity, enjoying meals with loved ones and sharing new ideas and perspectives.
An accomplished storyteller, Catherine passed on her heritage and values writing her memoirs, emphasizing the importance of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. She faced the challenges of aging with grace, punctuated by her simple acceptance: “So be it.” Above all, Catherine enriched the lives of those around her through her ability to forgive and love unconditionally. For those whose lives she touched, may we honor her legacy by spreading the circles of love she created.
Please join Catherine's family for any of the following to honor and celebrate Catherine:
- Vigil/Wake at St. Catherine of Siena - St. Agnes Chapel (in the Chapel Catherine helped re-design) 6:30PM - 8:00PM on Thursday, October 2, 2025
- Funeral mass at St. Catherine of Siena - St. Agnes Church 10:00AM on Friday, October 3, 2025
- Reception/Celebration of Life at First Congregational Church (FCCOG) in the auditorium 12:00PM on Friday, October 3, 2025
"All shall be well and all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be well. For there is a force of love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never let us go." -- Julian of Norwich
The Good News according to Catherine ~
And Jesus said to me: "Believe in my love for you; in my unconditional love, my Total acceptance of you as you are. Believe this and you will fly with the wings of an eagle, your heart will sing for joy and of love as you reach for the stars, you will dance in the sky towards the light of dawn, you will enjoy gliding through the air upheld by my Spirit, that Love who carries you amid earthquakes and storms, on whom you can lay your weary heart and hear my heartbeat repeat and repeat, again and again: 'I love you, I love you. Receive life. Rejoice in wonder and delight."
"What must I do," I asked, "that I might soar like an eagle and rest in your arms warmed by your mantle of love?"
"You must be willing to give me your heart, your mind, your life,"He said. "you must let go of the past, the old tapes, the old messages, the illusions, the lies, the false self, all that you lived by so as to be loved and approved of. Your heart must turn around completely. So, let go. Though you may be assailed by anxieties and fears as your heart summersaults in the void, you will fall into my arms unharmed. Through the fall itself, with my great desire for you as you are drawing you through, you will go through the fire and not look back; you will be unburdened and freed; you will see, accept, and love yourself as you are: the real you, the one to whom I gave life, the one whom I have loved from the beginning, love now and forever. You will be transformed. You will see me and know me. You will be radiant with life: a light to many, a refuge, a place of rest, a source of strength, all because of me and my love for you."
"Then help me," I said. "Help me to give you my heart, my mind, my life. I cannot even do that by myself." He smiled and I smiled, and I knew...
Written by Catherine Lepoutre April 23, 1990
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"So be it."
"Pardon my French, but you know what you can do with those 'shoulds!'"
"What would the family think?!"
"Say something quick and smart."
"You'll never get me to live in France!"
"This old bird." "Getting old is the PITS!"
- Büche de Noël
- Chicken Florentine
- Shepard's Pie
- Salmon
- Crab cakes
- Baked Alaska
Writing memoirs.
Spending time with family, grandchildren, and loved ones.
Walking.
-- St. Catherine of Siena - St. Agnes: www.stc-sta.org/stewardship/online-giving
-- First Congregational Church - FCCOG: www.fccog.org/#gsc.tab=0
-- Center for Action & Contemplation: https://cac.org/support-cac
-- Fellowship of the Inexhaustible Cup: https://inexhaustiblecup.org/membership
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-- St. Catherine of Siena - St. Agnes: www.stc-sta.org/stewardship/online-giving
-- First Congregational Church - FCCOG: www.fccog.org/#gsc.tab=0
-- Center for Action & Contemplation: https://cac.org/support-cac
-- Fellowship of the Inexhaustible Cup: https://inexhaustiblecup.org/membership
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