Catherine Davis Davis (1938-2017)

Joan Davis was born in Oakland. She attended St. Clare School in Santa Clara and graduated from Notre Dame High School, San Jose, before entering the Notre Dame Novitiate in Saratoga in 1957. After teaching elementary school children in Marysville, Chico, Los Angeles, Redwood City, Folsom and Yuba City, Sister Catherine of Siena (as she was known then) assisted in the library at College of Notre Dame, then studied for a Master’s in Library Science. In 1973, she began her “perfect job” as the full-time, credentialed librarian at Notre Dame Elementary School in Belmont – and stayed for 39 years!

Sister Dolores Quigg, who was principal there for most of those years, described Sister Catherine as masterful at finding books that matched each child’s interests or needs. Students were convinced that Sr. Catherine had read all 5,000 books in the library! Suzy Jones Smith, a former co-worker and friend at Notre Dame Elementary, remembers how Sister always praised the good things the children did and took a personal interest in the teachers and families as well.

Sister Catherine was diagnosed in 2014 with ALS, the neurodegenerative disease that was also the cause of death for her grandfather, her father Kenneth Davis, and her brother Timothy. A younger brother, Michael, preceded them in death. The courage and grace she showed in dealing with this debilitating disease were an inspiration to everyone who knew her. When frustration and fear would take hold, she would very intentionally pray for someone else who might be suffering.

Catherine with her brother Timothy, mother Alice and father Kenneth.

In the final chapter of Sister Catherine’s life, she received loving care at Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland, where she died on May 12, 2017. She regularly expressed appreciation to the Mercy caregivers for their care of her and her 102-year-old mother, Alice Davis. She stayed in touch with friends through letter-writing and read widely; she enjoyed movies and could recall songs from all the musicals. She cheered enthusiastically for the Warriors and 49ers and remained loyal to the Dodgers, whom she had supported since her years of teaching in Los Angeles.

Sr. Catherine at Halloween

May Sister Catherine’s spirit live on in those she cared about and delighted in, and may they share with many other children her love of books and reading.

Updated in 2026.