Rest In Peace and Eternal Memory
Catherine "Cat" Herzog
Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend.
1969 - 2022

Jesus-Follower
Cat was a self-proclaimed Jesus follower. She was a devout member of the Byzantine Catholic Church for 20 years, at one point driving four hours each way to attend Sunday services, due to the scarcity of Byzantine churches.
She was not raised Catholic and took her time to visit various churches searching for, as she would say "the closest thing to the original church that Jesus put in place." She raised her children to research, know the history of the Church, and to make their own decisions.
She eventually joined the Byzantine church because of their mission to heal the schism between the churches. She said it reflected Jesus' mission on earth.

Cat may be gone...

...But her mission is not! We at Life Breads will continue to fulfill her dream of providing quality gluten-free baked goods to the Quad Cities. 

An Artist...
Cat was not just a self-taught baker, but also an author and painter! Born in southern California, she loved the ocean, but especially lighthouses. She had a collection of lighthouse knickknacks and ocean paintings. She even painted the ocean herself. You will see it on display in her bakery. She was an artistic soul that would find joy in the mundane, just by its very nature.

A Mother...
Cat homeschooled all five of her children, but not only was she a beloved mother to her own kids, she was also a mother figure to the many friends of her children, frequently offering them food, place to stay, or ride. Cat was also an excellent grandmother, with her favorite moniker being "Grammy Cat". She also has a granddaughter named after her- Elaine Catherine. She was playful with them. She sacrificed for them. She always held emotional space for them and was best known for this saying:

"Feelings are not good or bad... they are just there. Our reactions are what determine our character."

From holding her newborn grandson outside of a classroom while her daughter completed her college degree to adopting her granddaughter as her 5th child, Cat showed her character by always going the extra mile to let her family and friends know that they are loved.