Catherine B. Cassidy, 51, of Ansonia died peacefully July 27 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was a fierce fighter who always had a smile and kind words for everyone she knew. She was born August 18, 1964, and grew up in Newtown, graduating from Newtown High School.

She also attended Western Connecticut State University, majoring in art.

Ms Cassidy was an extremely creative soul who had been involved with art from a very young age. Her interest in drawing and painting eventually led her into a lifelong career in graphic design, where she became immersed in the design and layout of books and magazines. Most of her career was spent crafting book and magazine layouts and designs for The Taunton Press in Newtown. In recent years, she also worked as an independent graphic designer completing projects on a freelance basis, the most notable of these being a project known as The Big House Book.

Her faith was very important to her, and was especially a deep comfort and blessing during her illness.

She was deeply loved and will be missed by her family, which includes her loving and devoted partner, Lisa Checkley of Ansonia; her loving and devoted parents, Emily and John Cassidy of Bourne, Mass. (formerly of Sandy Hook); her twin sisters Shannon Cassidy of New Milford and Stacy O'Boyle of Maryland; and her brother and sister-in-law Sean and Virna Cassidy of Plymouth, Mass. Also, very special to her were her two nieces and a nephew, aunts, uncles, and many cousins.

Ms Cassidy also made many lifelong friends, whom she thought of as family, through her work at Taunton Press. She was loved by all of them for her quick wit, sense of humor, kindness, and thoughtfulness. She was a joy to be around and loved to make people laugh. She will be missed and is wished peace by all who knew and loved her.

A memorial service will take place Saturday, July 30, at 11 am, at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street (at the flagpole), in Newtown. Visit newtownmeetinghouse.com for information regarding directions and parking.

Also, on August 18, Ms Cassidy's birthday, a Celebration of Life picnic will be held in her honor at Hammonasset State Park in Madison.

Memorial donations may be made to Connecticut Hospice in Branford at www.hospice.com, or by mailing donation to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford CT 06405.