Catherine Manfredi Ferrari, or Bubba, as she was known to her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, passed away on December 9th, 2025 at Concordia at Villa St. Joseph in Baden.
She was born in Clarksville, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Rachela and Luigi Manfredi. She is survived by her children, Valerie Ferrari Harley (husband – George) of Monaca, Cathi Ferrari of Monaca and Rob Ferrari of Elwood City, and her grandchildren, Erin Harley Carnevale (husband – Vincent), Matt Harley (wife – Lauren), and Ryan Ferrari (husband John) and her great grandchildren, Gia and Nick Carnevale, Alaine and Justine Harley. She is also survived by a wealth of nieces, nephews, and their spouses, great nieces, great great nieces and nephews.
Catherine was the youngest of nine children. She frequently talked about her youth in Clarksville, sneaking off to Iona’s grocery store to indulge her life, long obsession with potato chips and Pepsi and going to Hupp’s Dairy Bar to dance with friends on weekends. She met her husband, Robert (Bob) Ferrari, in Fredericktown, a nearby coal mining town. They were married on November 18th, 1950, and she and Robert lived for a while in the Manfredi family farmhouse in Clarksville before moving to Monaca. Catherine was grateful for those years at the farm. Family was most important to Catherine and the memories she shared with her siblings who were always dropping by stayed with her throughout her long life. Those siblings were Angeline Zurzola, Frank Lucia, Jim Manfredi, Jeno Manfredi, Mary Kacz, Louise Domon, Edith Greskovich, and Pete Manfredi. Catherine loved her life in Monaca, raising her children, worshipping at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, participating in book clubs, traveling and playing 500 with friends. Among her proudest accomplishments was her career at the House of Fabrics, where she rose form counter attendant to store manager despite having only a high school education. She credited her success to being “testadura,” an Italian expression meaning hard headed.
Friends will be received on Sunday, December 14th, from 2-6 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, who was in charge of her arrangements, and where prayers will be offered on Monday, December 15th at 10 a.m. followed by a mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m., in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1409 Pennsylvania Avenue, Monaca and the burial will take place in the cemetery of that church.
Those who wish to commemorate Catherine with a donation can do so by contributing to Our Lady of Fatima Angel Fund in Hopewell Township and the Monaca Public Library, 998 Indiana Ave, Monaca, PA 15061.