Doretta K. Malerba-Cathcart
Doretta Kay Malerba-Cathcart “Punky,” known by many for her volunteer activities, died August 10, 2020 at the age of 67. Doretta was born, raised, and lived her life in Charlotte, Michigan. She loved her community and gave back through many organizations. Born November 17, 1952 to Roger and Dorothy (Shaul) Pruden, she graduated from Charlotte High School in 1970 and spent over 20 years with Carter’s as a store employee, manager and working in the corporate office. Prior to that Doretta worked with her best friend, Barb, at the Charlotte Country Club for 13 years. Some of her many volunteer activities included: Relay For Life participant and board member for many years; Charlotte Frontier Days committee member for many years, as well as General Chairman for multiple years and Grand Marshal in 2015; and Potterville VFW Auxiliary working often at BINGO.
Doretta was not only loved and admired by her community for her generosity, but also by her family for her kind ways and always finding time for the important things in life. She was very proud of her daughters and her 4 grandsons, and really enjoyed trips to the family cabin in Harrison. She dearly loved her bassett hounds, Sam and Maggie and shih tzu, Bella. Doretta was loyal, generous, and a hard worker. She gained even more admiration from her family and friends with the strength she showed during the struggles she faced over the years.
Doretta will be missed dearly by her family, including daughters, Melissa (Bryan) Foster, Marci (Jerry) Kohler; grandsons Blake, Bryson, Carson, and Bronx; brothers, Robert (Vickie) Pruden; Anthony Rodriguez, Tim Rodriguez, Dean (Candace) Rodriguez; sisters, Susanne Rodriguez (Todd Trowbridge), and Annette (Brian) Davis; step-mother, Jackie Pruden; many nieces and nephews; and dear friends, Barb Powers, Sue Wolcott, and Roxanne Ripley. She was predeceased by her husbands, Michael Malerba II in 1987, and Michael Cathcart in 2015; best bud Steve Cyphert; and her parents. The family is at peace knowing that Doretta is reunited with her son, Michael Malerba III, who passed away in 2007.
Visitation will be at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte on Friday, August 14, 2020, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral services are Saturday, August 15, 11 a.m. in the Pray Funeral Home Garden with Pastor Charles Jenson officiating. Mask and social distancing guidelines are required during visitation and funeral services. The funeral service will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to prayfuneral.com, click on Doretta’s tribute, then click on Photos & Videos from your computer (or media from your smart phone). Just prior to the beginning of the service, a link will appear on this page to watch the webcast. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the House of Ruth or Special Olympics Michigan Area 8. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Doretta on her Tribute Page at PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.