Catherine Celina Baber

Catherine (Schneider) Baber, age 70, passed away peacefully at her home in Rio Rancho, NM on September 19, 2026. Born on January 24, 1956 in Milford, CT, she was the daughter of the late Carl and Vicki (Carlberg) Schneider.

Catherine (Cathy) was active in the AGLOW women’s ministry and volunteered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Rio Rancho, NM. She enjoyed painting, writing poetry (she wrote over 100 poems), cactus gardening, and jewelry making (which she continued until the last couple of months of her life). She also enjoyed her two wonderful canine “companions”; Millie (a Doberman) for 14 years, and Tron (a predominantly Shia Inu) for 10 years. Cathy was dearly loved by her entire family and will be missed by all.

Cathy is survived by her husband John (of nearly 39 years). She is also survived by brother- in-law Jim Baber and his wife Gwen (Charlottesville VA), with nephews Stuart, Austin, and Daniel; sister-in-law Carol Baber (Phoenix, AZ), with nieces Kara and Marsha; and sister-in-law Sue (Baber) Kirby (Richmond, VA), with niece Cora.

Cathy is also survived by her aunt Jeannette (Carlberg) Kaulfers, who helped inspire Cathy by her own love of poetry writing and painting, her older sister Joanna (Schneider) Smith and her husband Phil (Sun City, AZ), younger brother Steve Schneider and his wife Ellen (Oxford, CT), with nieces Elizabeth and Emily. Her older brother Fred Schneider pre-deceased her in 2010 and is survived by his wife Nancy (Oxford, CT) with nephews Ryan and Kyle, and niece Tara.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for December 15th at 10:00 AM at St Jude Thaddeus Church in Albuquerque, NM.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the American Cancer Society.