Cathy Prager

Cathy Prager, 65, of Princes Bay, formerly from Brooklyn, passed away on July 2, 2025 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. She was the beloved Mother to Denise Bobenchik (wife to Dave). Cathy worked as Senior Administrative Assistant in the Commercial Banking Industry for over 40 years. She dedicated the past 25 years of her life working for Citibank. She was a wonderful person with the kindest heart. She had a love for crocheting and playing bingo, to which she would drive to Brooklyn every weekend not just to play bingo, but to also see the many friends she had at the bingo hall. Cathy was also a cat lover and adored her two girls Molly and Polly, as well as her daughter's cat Bandit, to which she was known as "Cat Grandma". Cathy was a single mother, having become a widow at the age of 30 in 1989, when her husband Matthew passed away at the age of 36 from a massive heart attack. Her daughter Denise was her life and main focus. The two were inseparable even into adulthood and shared a mother-daughter bond that could not be matched. In August 2024, she went for an MRI for what appeared to be sciatica, but instead received upsetting news and was ultimately diagnosed with cancer. Having a clean bill of health prior, this was a complete shock to both Cathy and her family. Since her daughter Denise was a two time cancer survivor, she immediately called MSKCC for a referral and took charge of the situation. She received numerous chemotherapy and radiation treatments as well as surgery. She was the most positive, optimistic and upbeat person to battle such a grim disease. She took each day in stride with her "go getter" attitude. Her most used phrases were "This Isn't Going To Get Me" and "It Will Be Just Fine". There were many reasons to believe that it would be. However, in late January, she contracted Leptomeningerial Disease, subsequent to the cancer. Unknown at the time, this was the turning point and when everything would change. Cathy was nothing short of a tough fighter. She gave all she had no matter what challenge she faced. She smiled in the face of darkness and pushed through as much as possible. In May, she received more devastating news, and her oncologist recommended Hospice Care to which she declined. She even insisted on trying something else. She was told there was nothing else that could be done and the cancer spread throughout her body, including her brain and did not have much time left. Cathy chose to keep this information to herself, mostly to protect her daughter Denise. She was selfless and bore this tragic news to spare others. That's the type of person she was, caring about others before herself. Her legacy will live on in the love and compassion she gave to others as well as through all that were blessed to know her. The family will receive friends from 4:00-9:00pm on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc., 28 Eltingville Blvd, Staten Island, New York. A Funeral Service will be at 7:30pm on Tuesday at the Funeral Home. Cremation will be private.

Cathy Prager

September 21, 1959 - July 2, 2025