Catherine (Lesiak) Wanat, 101, of Meriden, beloved wife of the late Edward Wanat died at Masonic Health Center on October 4, 2013. Catherine was the daughter of Franciszek and Honorata Lesiak. She was predeceased by her two sisters: Salomeja Franz and Sister Frances Lesiak, a Sister of the Good Shepherd. Catherine was a loving mother of her four children: Joan Froscio and husband Raymond of East Granby, Dr. Francis E. Wanat and wife Sharon of New Jersey, Sister Barbara Wanat, a Sister of St. Joseph, Third Order of St. Francis and Dolores Vumbaco and husband Frank of Wallingford, She had 8 grandchildren: Jeanne, James, Catherine, Christopher, Peter, Lisa, Diana, Beth and Edward. She had 6 great grandchildren: Kristofer, Nathan, Jeremy, Hope, Christopher and Jackson, all who endearingly called her "Babci". Catherine had many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who called her "Cioci". As the matriarch of the Wanat family, she was greatly loved and a role model to her family. Her God and her family were the number one priorities in her life. For many years, the Church could depend on Catherine to work at the annual festival by baking bread, making pierogi and organizing her Polish dance group. Catherine belonged to the St. Theresa Society of the Polish Woman's Alliance and was an active President for 35 years. She was also a member of St. Stanislaus Ladies Guild, the Rosary Society, the Sacred Heart Society, the St. Stanislaus Senior Sunshine Club, the Lady Falcons, the Meriden Council of Catholic Women and the Senior Citizens of Meriden. For many years she volunteered at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Meriden. Catherine excelled as a seamstress, as well as in knitting, crocheting, cooking Polish foods and making floral arrangements. She was an avid fan of the Red Sox and the UCONN Girls Basketball team.