Cathy Suzanne VanOstran (née Riechman), of Joplin, passed away on December 31, 2016, surrounded by her family, after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 49.

Cathy was born March 9, 1967, in Joplin. She was a 1985 graduate of Parkwood High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State College. Cathy worked as a teacher at Christ’s Community United Methodist Church Discovery School, a substitute teacher in the Joplin R-VIII school district, and later, as a part of the Freeman Screen Team.

Cathy married Charles “Andy” VanOstran on February 19, 1988. He preceded her in death. She is survived by their children: Cort Andrew VanOstran, 28, of St. Louis; Collin Spencer VanOstran, 25, of Columbia, Missouri; and, Callie Dawn VanOstran, 21, of Joplin.

Cathy’s life was one of notable highs and lows. Her character was defined by the grace and tenacity with which she navigated them. Upon being widowed at the age of 30, Cathy dedicated her life to raising her three children, then ages two, five, and eight. She was a constant source of love, encouragement, and wisdom for her children, and set an example of faith and hope in the face of difficult circumstances.

Cathy had an incredible way of relating to almost everyone she met. She was a frequent confidant not only to her own children, but to their friends, who often sought out “Ms. V’s” advice and felt comfortable sharing their problems with her. Cathy’s life was consistently enriched by the love and unfailing support of her mother, Barbara Riechman. In addition to a close bond with her two sisters, Angela Wilkes and Cyndi Bennett, and a cousin, Susan Chambers, she was fortunate to enjoy a great number of close friends: the late Lisa Workman, Becky, Jody, Paula, Debi, Susan, Kathy, Michelle, Kent, Heather, Gina, Jan, Cassie, and others too numerous to mention.

Cathy loved animals and small children, with whom she could reliably establish an immediate rapport. She enjoyed music (especially Michael Jackson and Bonnie Raitt), funny movies (she could quote at length from Zoolander and Dumb and Dumber), and the works of Christian theologians (Hannah Whitall Smith was a favorite). Cathy’s favorite days were filled with trips to the College Skyline pool (where she intermittently served on the board of directors), walks at Wildcat Park or the Frisco Trail, and endless games of Scrabble with her family. To her children’s then-consternation (and now, great delight), she loved family photographs and insisted on taking them constantly.

Cathy’s children were her pride and joy. Her selfless dedication to her children’s lives produced two Harvard graduates and a daughter whose heart for people and missions has taken her as far away as Barbados and Taiwan. Even as her children came of age and found themselves in distant states and countries, Cathy was continually a source of encouragement and guidance, remaining intimately aware of, and involved in, their lives and adventures. Like any mother, Cathy was proud of her children and supported their endeavors; but she was always more interested in their development into good and generous people than in any worldly accomplishments.

In addition to her husband, Andy, Cathy was preceded in death by her father, Don Riechman. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Riechman, of Joplin; two sisters, Angela Wilkes (husband Keith), of Owasso, Oklahoma, and Cyndi Bennett (husband Grant), of Joplin; mother-in-law Betty VanOstran, of Joplin; and, her loving nephews and nieces.

Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday at Christ’s Community United Methodist Church, followed by a graveside committal at Stone Cemetery, Joplin. Visitation is from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, at Mason-Woodard Mortuary and Chapel, in Joplin.

Pallbearers will be Cort and Collin VanOstran, Keith Wilkes, Grant Bennett, Austin Wilkes, and Matthew Riechman Bennett.

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