UTICA Catherine G. Blum, age 94, formerly of Laurel Avenue, East Herkimer, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, April 18, 2009, at the Masonic Care Community, Utica where she had resident for the past ten years. She was born on January 4, 1915, in Herkimer the only child of Loyal and Grace Sheffield Gibson. A life long Herkimer resident she graduated from Herkimer High School with the class of 1931. On January 18, 1936, she married Herman A. Blum at the Universalist Parsonage in Dolgeville. They shared a devoted union of 48 years until his passing on September 1, 1984. For many years she had worked for Salada Food Industries in Little Falls, retiring in 1979. Mrs. Blum was a quiet, gentle person who took pride in caring for her home and family. She was a member of the Little Falls AARP. She was an avid reader, enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and gardening until more recent years. Surviving are three sons and their wives, Richard and Violet Blum, Roger and Carol Blum all of East Herkimer, Jerry and Carol Blum of Mohawk, seven grandchildren, Scott Blum and his wife Annette, Darlene Brewer and her husband Dale, Keith Blum and his wife Christine, Mark Blum and his companion Lannette Roberts, Courtney Blum, Tiffany Accumanno and her husband Joseph, along with several great-grandchildren. Besides her parents and husband Herman, she was preceded in death by a grandson Jamie Blum on March 31, 1997. A graveside side service will be held on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Oak Hill Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Herkimer County Humane Society, PO Box 73, Mohawk, NY 13407. The family wishes to acknowledge their deepest appreciation to the staff on the Monticello Household Wing of the Masonic Care Community for the care given to Catherine all during her stay as well as her most recent illness. Funeral arrangements are with Fenner Funeral Home Inc.