Catherine "Cathy" Ganyo-Obregon

Catherine “Cathy” Ganyo-Obregon, 64, Grand Forks, ND, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2020 in her home surrounded by her loved ones following her courageous battle with cancer.

Cathy was born August 17, 1955 in Grafton, ND, the daughter of Walter and Delores (Busse) Ganyo. At a young age, she moved with her family to Grand Forks where she attended school and graduated from Central High School in 1973. While raising her family, she worked various jobs and attended school. She studied at both the MN College of Nursing and UND and graduated with her first Nursing degree in 1978 and began her lifetime career as a nurse. She then graduated from Northland Technical College in Thief River Falls, MN in 1987 with her second Nursing degree. She spent most of her career at Valley Memorial Homes and at the Good Samaritan Center, East Grand Forks until moving to Chandler, AZ in 2007 where she continued her career as a Director of Nursing. Cathy returned to Grand Forks in 2014 and retired in 2015 due to ill health. She had a passion for helping others and thoroughly enjoyed her career in Nursing.

Cathy loved all things purple and was a huge fan of the Minnesota Vikings football team. She was also an avid reader who enjoyed time at the lake, fishing and the game of bingo. She loved spending time with family and friends but what held the most importance to Cathy was her one and only grandchild and light of her life, Ryder Olson. Cathy was one who always put others above herself and often took in relatives and friends into her home as well as fostered several of her nieces and nephews. Cathy was known as a second mom to all of her daughter’s friends and many of her nieces and nephews.

Survivors include her children Sarah (Cory) Olson and nephew Skylar Ganyo whom she raised as her own son; beloved Grandson Ryder Olson; significant other, Jeff Hairston; siblings, Jeanne (Donald) Bartlette, Evelyn (John) Bartlette, Daniel Ganyo and brother-in-law Kurt (Patricia) Gelinas: as well as many nieces & nephews and great/great great nieces and nephews.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents Walter & Delores (Busse) Ganyo; brother and sister-in-law Lawrence & Pamela (Kays) Ganyo, sister Patricia (Kurt) Gelinas and great nephew Joshua Bartlette.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks. Visitation will be for the hour before the service in the funeral home.