Catherine J. Gietka

Catherine "Kate" Gietka, nee Sherba, age 98, passed away on July17,2026 at Stella Maris Nursing Home,  Born in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of Mary Sherba. Her mother, Mary, came to America from Poland at fourteen years old. She came alone. Catherine was one of six children, all in heaven now: Walter Sherba, Ida Sipes, Betty Miller, Tony Sherba and Casimer (Steve) Sherba. Her husband, Ben, and daughter, Bernadette also left before her. Ben passed in 2006. Bernadette, her second born, passed in 2014 and lived with her mother most of her life, becoming her caretaker in Catherine’s later years. They were devoted to each other.  

Catherine (known as Miss Kate) owned a confectionary store in upper Fells Point on South Ann Street, where she raised her children and lived above the store. She is survived by her son Jerry, the eldest and  daughter Lynda Ruszala, along with her grandchildren Bryan, Heather and Zachary Ruszala, David Gietka and Mary Kate Williams. She also had 7 great grandchildren: Bryan and Kaydee Ruszala; Nick and Chris Ruszala; Josh Ruszala (now in heaven waiting for her); Robert and Michael Williams, and 2 great great grandchildren Zoe and Emilia Ruszala.

Born in 1927,she was raised and educated in Baltimore MD. She did not go to college, yet she was an extraordinary business woman. At an early age, she had to help take care of her younger siblings while her mother Mary worked numerous jobs to support the family during the depression years. All of the children worked with their mother when young, picking beans at a farm in nearby PA.  At age 16, she went to work at the Bethlehem Steel Plant during WWII, where she met and married her husband Ben at age 19 in 1946. This first marriage ended in 1956, and she became a single mom supporting her children and taking care of her mother, while working 10 am to 10 pm seven days a week in her confectionary store on S. Ann Street in upper Fells Point. As fate provided, she remarried Ben for a second time in 1992. They remained together until his passing.

She remained a very religious person throughout all of her life, never without her rosary. She spent a good deal of her later years traveling to visit various religious shrines in Europe and family in Poland. She helped her daughter, Bernadette, create the Marys Fund Foundation and as President helped to distribute almost $2 million to various churches and charities.

She spent most of her life as a contributing member of Holy Rosary Parish in the city. She was a member and officer of the choir and of several of the church’s Polish Women Groups there. Her donations and contributions were many. "Her special devotion was to the Divine Mercy."

Arrangements are in the care of Kaczorowski Funeral Home, 1201 Dundalk Avenue, Dundalk, MD 21222. In lieu of flowers, family would like donations made in her memory to Holy Rosary Church at 408, S. Chester Street, Baltimore MD 21231.