Catherine "Sassy" Elizabeth Pommett's Obituary
Catherine “Sassy” Elizabeth Pommett, age 68, of Gainesville, FL, passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Born November 27, 1956, in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of Charles J. and Irma Joycelynne (Hodson) Leidig. Catherine was the second-oldest of six siblings and was known for her beauty, tenacity, and vibrant spirit from a young age.
She graduated from Northeast High School in Pasadena, MD, where she was a cheerleader and crowned Miss Anne Arundel County in the Miss America Pageant. Catherine later pursued her passion for healthcare, earning her RN degree from Anne Arundel College, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Loyola College in Baltimore. Her dedication to medicine led her to work at Shock Trauma in Baltimore, and she earned a Master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, where she conducted research on Maternal AIDS at the University of Maryland Hospital.
Catherine’s life changed forever when she met Frank Pommett at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Maryland in 1986. They married on September 16, 1989, and together they created a beautiful life, moving to Florida in 2006. Catherine was a proud mother to Tim and Cassie, and a loving grandmother to Alice.
Throughout her life, Catherine was deeply passionate about many things. A devout Catholic, she immersed herself in reading about the Saints and lived her faith through her actions. She also enjoyed needlepoint and had a special love for dog photography, capturing the personalities of beloved pets through her lens.
Catherine is survived by her husband of 36 years, Frank Pommett; children, Tim Pommett (Danielle Lenz) and Cassie Smith (Travis); siblings, Admiral Charles Joseph Leidig, Jr. (Meg), John Michael Leidig, Christine Downey (Paul), Carol Esther, and James Leidig (Karen); and her cherished granddaughter, Alice Pommett. She is also remembered as a beloved friend and confidant to many.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Faith Catholic Church, with Fr. Ed Murphy as celebrant. Entombment will follow in Forest Meadows Central Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Faith Catholic Church https://holyfaithcatholicchurch.org/e-giving/ or to the UF Health Cancer Center https://cancer.ufl.edu/about/giving/make-a-gift-to-fight-cancer/.
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