Catherine Marie Frost

Catherine was born on February 24, 1972 at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson and died at home on April 7 after a brief hospital stay and many years of chronic illness.She is survived by her three sons, Abe, Charles, and Finn Hannigan; her parents, George and Clare Frost; and her brothers George and Michael (Jessica) Frost. She is also survived by her devoted friend, Ray Krenetsky; nieces Emily, Anna, Bryn; nephews, Michael and Sam  Frost.

She is also survived by a very large extended family of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, grand nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.  She is predeceased by her grandparents, Catherine and John O’Connell of New York, and Vera and George Frost of Holyoke, Mass.

Cathy graduated from Ward Melville (1992) and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Alfred University’s College of Art and Design in 1996 with sixty credits in fine art, a semester abroad at University College Galway, Ireland, and a college-wide award for creative writing. 

After college, she returned to Ireland, where she met David Hannigan, wonderful father of her three boys and  former husband of 22 years.  In Ireland she founded a local art school for children in DunLaoghaire, Ireland.  After the birth of her first child, Abe in 2000, she developed a chronic illness that necessitated her return to the United States. In the next ten years she taught art part-time at Studio 703 in Port Jefferson and gave birth to Charles and Finn.  She also participated in Gallery North’s art show and won an Honorable Mention for her mixed media work. She also worked in art therapy at nursing homes in the area and had a special feeling for working with the elderly.

However, Cathy’s greatest legacy is her three sons, who she loved unconditionally.  Each of them gave her such enormous joy and comfort, she treasured their unique gifts and individual personalities.   Cathy used her artist’s eye for detail and her talent for writing to compose many handmade cards, stories and poems about them and her feelings for them.  Cathy was a gifted storyteller and could turn a small incident in their lives into an amusing and heartfelt anecdote to entertain us and them. 

Calling hours are Sunday, April 10 from 3-7 at Bryant Funeral Home, Old Town Road, Setauket, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 11, at 10:45 at St. James R.C. church on 25A in Setauket, NY with burial immediately following in the church cemetery.