I am introducing to you our second lady of the day for the "Women's History Month" Project
Meet Cat Curley, 40, wife, mother of four… but only two pregnancies (learn about that below)... she knows perseverance.
Catherine Ann Curley (Cat), was born into a large family of immigrants that escaped from Lebanon in the late 1970s. Her parents had an arranged marriage, because her mother’s family knew that her father was moving to America. They both came here not knowing a word of English. Born in Connecticut, Cat watched her parents work very hard. Her mom, Mary, cleaned houses and her dad, John, started out in janitorial services at Pfizer, and worked his way up to a supervisor of research. He worked three jobs sometimes for over 35 years. They are now comfortably retired in southern Florida… a true American success story. This work ethic was instilled in Cat from a very early age and has been her motivation throughout her life.
Now, young Catherine is not the same as the Cat that you would meet today. Young Catherine was a rebel. Much younger than her older siblings, she did things her own way. This led to some trouble in high school, with behavior and her studies. She jumped around to different schools, but she persevered. She knew what was right deep down, so she put her nose down and graduated college in 3 years. Cat found inspiration in helping others persevere and she took a job after college helping youth coming out of lockup facilities get on their feet; helping them get their GED, get a job, get a driver’s license. It’s here that she met her husband, Chris. Always knowing what she wants and getting things done, they started dating in January of 2003. By November of the same year, they were married.
But the whirlwind did not stop there. Eighteen months later they had their first son. Less than two years after that… they had three more. Yup, triplets. Two boys and one girl. So that completed an “insta-family” with three boys and one girl. All under the age of two. Yikes. Add to that some complications from the pregnancy and some health issues, like a little thing called breast cancer. Cat persevered, with lots of help from family and friends. Two years and a double-mastectomy later, Cat had a family of six, plus a dog. She was feeling blessed.
The next adventure began a couple years later, when the vision to do something “outside the box” for the benefit of their children and for the benefit of the larger community became clear. That is when the Curley family and the Hoffman family came together and bought a horse farm in Wells, Maine. They called it “Living Wells Farm.” The Hoffmans are cousins and have two daughters, making a modern “Brady Bunch” of three girls and three boys living on the farm. They all shared a vision to be a positive force for the community, centered around their faith, nature, and animals. Today they offer summer camps, lessons, and trail rides to the community. The health issues have also evolved to include Crohn’s disease, so the perseverance, while still feeling blessed, continues. Her faith and her work ethic always drive her forward. To get a good sense for the dynamic and the vibe at Living Wells Farm (and how Cat loves to annoy Amanda), check out the videos that Cat and Amanda post on Facebook about their daily perseverance in caring for over twenty horses, six kids, and three dogs.
Cat's favorite quote is:
"I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world."
- George Washington
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Thank you, Cat, for sharing your story and journey with us all!
#whm #womenshistorymonthproject #womenempowerment #womansupportingwomen
3 Comments
Mar 30, 2021, 9:57:17 AM
Patricia Casey - Two family’s that make the heart of Wells stronger and adds to the feelings of a “town you want to belong to”. The love for animals, relationships and community I have witnessed from both of these fantastic families! Thank you for doing what you do and sharing it with all of us ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Mar 26, 2021, 7:15:13 PM
Susan DeMauro - A beautifully written story about a beautiful woman. Cat lights up the universe by her presence. A role model of perseverance fir all ages. She was a very special friend to my son,Mark, and has adopted my daughter-in-law, Erin and my grandkids- Sam, Nate, and Mia. My heart is the happiest when I know they are all together because I know Mark is there too ❤️
Mar 22, 2021, 8:55:22 PM
Imad - What a strong woman!! A true inspiration. The power of perseverance.