Catherine Roth

Catherine Barkley Roth "Kitsie" passed away on Saturday, September 22 ^th , 2018 after a brief illness. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Gary Francis Barkley and Gladys Hopkins Barkley.
She is survived by her three beloved children: Jon Biddle Roth, Jr. (Marie Catherine Gyorvary), Gary Barkley Roth, and Elizabeth Hardie Roth "Lisa". Her treasured grandchildren are: Christopher Wilkinson Roth, Amy Arnoult Roth, Leah Gyorvary Roth, Benjamin Hopkins Roth, Henderson Barkley Roth "Henry", Jonathan Molnar Roth, Catherine Barkley Roth and Merrick Wilkinson Roth. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Brenda Roth Coleman.
Kitsie attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart and the Louise S. McGehee schools in New Orleans and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University. She subsequently received a special certification in Reading Disabilities from the University of Virginia. During her New Orleans debut, she reigned as Queen of Harlequins and was in the courts of Twelfth Night Revelers, Comus, Proteus and Mithras.
Married to Jon Biddle Roth upon graduation, she spent 20 years traveling with him while he served as an Officer in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Commander.  Upon his retirement from the Navy, they returned to New Orleans in 1979. In 1984, she and Jon bought a weekend home in Pass Christian, Mississippi and moved there permanently in 2003.  She spent many years tutoring children in reading and SAT and ACT preparation both in Virginia and New Orleans.  She was particularly gifted in teaching children with learning disabilities.
Kitsie was initiated into the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity at LSU. Her mother, Gladys, was a Pi Beta Phi at Newcomb and daughter Lisa was a Pi Beta Phi at LSU.  Kitsie was chairman of the National Pi Beta Phi Convention held in New Orleans in 1987, National Convention Boutique Chairman for four conventions and the National Alumné� Province President for six years. She received the Evelyn Peters Kyle province award, the Emma Harper Turner province award and the Outstanding LA Beta Award from the Baton Rouge Alumné� Club.
Always active her community, Kitsie was a member, Past President, and Honorary Board member of Le Petit Salon. She was a past President of the Orleans Club, Treasurer for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Pi Beta Phi Alumné� Club.  She was a member of the Fortnightly Book Club, the Pass Prophets Investment Club, and the Pass Christian Yacht Club, where she was honored with the Rafferty Award. Other activities included serving as Chairman of the Boutique Christmas Kitchen and on the Flower Guild of the Holy Family Altar Society.
Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends. She was a gracious hostess and devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother.  She enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking, and playing Mah Jong with her friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4:00pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at Holy Family Church, 22342 Evangeline Drive, at Menge Avenue, Pass Christian, Mississippi, with visitation one hour prior.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Long Beach, is serving the family, and memories may be shared at www.riemannfamily.com .
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society, St. John Catholic Church, 2414 17th St., Gulfport, MS 39501, or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org .