Catherine Blahnik, 89, of Spring Valley died Thursday at Seasons Hospice in Rochester following a courageous battle with cancer.

Catherine A. Snyder was born at home on the family farm near Austin on Sept. 6, 1921, to Peter and Agnes (Guiney) Snyder.

She was the third of nine children. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. She attended country schools near the family farm where she grew up and attended St. Augustine Catholic School in Austin and graduated valedictorian in 1939.

She was married to Fred Blahnik on Dec. 26, 1942, also at St. Augustine Catholic Church. The family farmed in the Austin area until moving to the Sumner Center area north of Spring Valley in 1957.

For the past 10 years, she has resided at Hillside Home Apartments in Spring Valley where she truly enjoyed the Saturday morning coffees on the third floor.

Her life’s meaning revolved around faith and family, whom she loved dearly. She enjoyed the life of a farm wife and homemaker, her travels, reading, quilting, and almost to the end was ready to spontaneously take a ride to see the country side and view the crops. She was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Spring Valley

She is survived by her children: Rose Van Kirk of Spring Valley, Richard (Sheila) Blahnik, Winona, Robert (Pat) Blahnik Spring Valley, Roger Blahnik, North Branch, and Tom (Jacque) Blahnik, St. Charles; nine grandchildren: Chris Van Kirk, Jeff (Ruthy) Blahnik, Anne (Luka) Bajzer, Jim (Teri) Blahnik, Joe (Tonya) Blahnik, Jon Blahnik, Shannon (Ken) Bezdicek, Emily Blahnik and Billy Blahnik; five great-grandchildren and two brothers: Paul (Irene) Snyder and Gene (Adeline) Snyder both of Grand Meadow; and two sisters; Sister Ruth Snyder, Austin and Mariah Snyder, St. Paul, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 1973; grandson, Brian; and four siblings, Mary Blahnik, Joe Snyder, Angie Viktora and John Snyder.

Condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com.

Funeral Mass for Catherine will be 11 a.m. Tuesday Aug. 16, 2011, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Spring Valley with Father Steve Peterson officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hindt Funeral Home on Monday.

The public is also invited for a Rosary being which is being recited at 5 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday for an hour prior to the service at the church.