Catharine ‘Cae’ Coleman
Catharine “Cae” Coleman Yager left this life peacefully following a brief illness.
Catharine was born at home, delivered by Dr. Henry at a few minutes before midnight on March 31, 1920. She was the middle child and only daughter of Howard S. Coleman and Amy Elizabeth Ritchey. Howard Coleman was a baker at the Coleman Family Bakery in Everett, Pa; Amy was a teacher in a one room schoolhouse.
Growing up in Everett Pa, the Coleman Family moved to State College, Pa when Catharine was 14 so that the children could have a college education.
Catharine went on to Pennsylvania State University. While “Cae” felt called to the theatre, the Country was at War. (WW II).
As providence would arrange, at 19, she met and fell in love with Bruce Yager at the Delta Gamma sorority house, of which she was a member. The two became a pair, enjoying politics, dancing and discussions on a wide range of topics.
Cae was a true trailblazer of her era. While marriage was on their minds, Cae was determined to have a career. Considering that she was born in the year when women had just won the vote in the U. S., this represented unusually forward thinking. Shortly after college graduation, they married in a modest home ceremony held on July 4th as this was the only day the couple could get a half day off during WWII. The couple then moved to Philadelphia, residing in the communal House of Industry. Both worked for Brown Instruments as part of the war effort.
Cae kept true to her desire for a career, going on to receive her Masters of Social Work and Psychology, University of Pennsylvania in 1945, additional training in family therapy from Eastern PA Psychiatric Institute and Medical College in 1970-71 and family therapy training at Bryn Mawr College in 1970-71.
Cae further broke with social convention at the time by working for several years before beginning a family. However, once baby Deborah was in arms, more babies quickly followed: Carmella, Stephannie, Bruce and Victoria arrived, and her commitment to her career waited.
Over the years, she would bring her skill as a social worker to many families and children: As a teacher at Strawberry Mansion Day School,1942-43, which included children who were refugees from the Holocaust, 1945-48 Graduate Social Worker Children’s Aid Society of Phila., 1960-63 Kindergarten Teacher Stevens School, Chestnut Hill, PA, 1960-64 Carson Valley School, Flourtown, PA, 1963-64, Social Worker with Methodist Home for Children 1964 for 26 years, and for many happy years “Miss Cae” served as the much loved School Psychological Consultant at Charlestown Playhouse, a well-known cooperative nursery school in Charlestown Twp, Chester County, founded by Betty Stonorov.
In 2000, Cae suddenly lost her soul mate of nearly 60 years. In 2002, she proceeded with their plan of moving to Cathedral Village, where she resided until her death.
Cae loved many things: music, dance, theater, but first and foremost was her love of family. Cae leaves a large and loving family: Deborah and Gregory Treleaven, MA. Carmella Yager and Dennis Gurgul, ME. Stephannie (Beemer) McLimans and Dave McLimans, Chester County, PA. Dr. N. Bruce and Kathleen Yager, CA and Victoria Yager and Michael Masterson, CA. Seven grandchildren Max Withers (Julianne), Katherine Withers (Josh), Meghan Shaw (Tom), Scott Beemer (Erin), Gawain Treleaven, Carrie Beemer, Catharine Pauline Darr (Alex), Harrison Yager, and Isabella Masterson and 6 great-grandchildren.
The Celebration of Life and Memorial Service for Cae Yager is set for March 28th. Family visitation at 10:30 am, Services at 11:30 am at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, 600 E. Cathedral Road, Philadelphia, Pa, 19128. Inurnment private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Cae’s name can be made to: Charlestown Playschool, Phoenixville, PA and Methodist Home for Children, Phila. She nourished our spirits and bodies for so many years and continues to shine the light of love into our lives as she will forever.
