Funeral services for 78-year old Cynthia Catches are Sat, Sept 10, 2022 at 10:00 at the Cindy and Peter Catches residence at the end of Tobacco Road in the Calico Community of Pine Ridge, SD. Officiating will be Charles McGaa and Deacon William “Bill” White with traditional Lakota services by Mike Catches The Enemy
Burial is at the Catches Family Cemetery in Pine Ridge, SD
A two-night wake service starts Thurs, Sept 8, at 10:00 AM at the home of Cindy & Peter Catches with Rosary at 7:00 each night
Cynthia Wanda Catches was born on June 6, 1944 in Pine Ridge, SD to Pete Catches, Sr. and Amelia Catches-Ribsman. Cynthia made her journey to the Spirit World on September 1, 2022 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Cynthia was beloved by so many. She welcomed people from all over and saw them as family.
Cynthia grew up on her family homestead in Calico, but ended her schooling early to help her her beloved Mother, Amelia, with her brothers and sisters. She also helped her mother at Red Cloud School in the classrooms for the younger children.
Cynthia met and married Bart Long and had four children: Xavier Long Sr, Shannon Long, Rapheal Long, and Adrian Long. She is survived by Shannon and Xavier.
Cynthia liked to stay home to bead moccasins and turtles and sew star quilts. She lived close to her Lakota traditional ways. Cynthia’s first language was Lakota and she spoke it, as well as English, all of her life.
After raising her children, she went back to school and graduated from Oglala Lakota College with an AA degree in social services and counseling, and bachelor’s degree in human services to help her people.
She then chose to raise her grandchildren Amelia Long and Xavier “Jr” Long, and her great-grandchildren Hoksila Sidney Long and Denyon Ghost Bear.
She loved all her grandchildren: Chase Roy, “CJ” Cidney Long, Casey Long Weston, Justes Scott, Amelia Long, Cynthia Long, Nelson Long, and Ruthie Long as well as her great-grandchildren: Baby Girl – Wiyaka Roy, Mercedes Long, Hoksila Long, Baby Tiny – Kyelle Long, Xavier Long Jr., Abrianna Scott, Sasha Weasel Bear, Ava Weston, Mato Weston, Lo Dubray Hawk Wing, Casey Weston, Denyon Ghost Bear, Zane Marshall, Harmony Long, Joseph Charging Jr., Trinity Charging, and William Charging.
She was preceded in death by her beloved mother and father, Amelia and Pete Catches Sr, her siblings Christine, Myrna, Rapheal, Peter, and Paul Catches.
She is survived by her sister Patricia and brothers Kenneth and Peta as well as her hunka sisters Sonya Hernandez and Marnee White Wolf and hunka daughters Makpia and Mni Wacipi Win Sak.
Pallbearers will be Justes Scott, Sheldon Ribsman, Zavier Long Sr, Zavier Long Jr, Chase Roy, CJ Long, Jimmy Elk Boy, Andy Runion, Norman Afraid of Bear, and Canston Afraid of Bear.
Honorary pallbearers will be Quincy Red Feather, Cindy Catches & Faith and Dov Holmes, Dennis Blue, Howard Little Hawk and family, AJ Audrey Lakota and family, Alice Two Bulls & Bernard Red Cloud, Mike Catches the Enemy & family, Charity Two Bulls, Pansy Two Bulls, Chellie & Frankee White Dress, Ruth & Henry Afraid of Bears, Ruby Wheeler and family, Renee Good Lance, Tammy Catches & family, Yoland & Gary Laysbad & family, Ardith Catches the Enemy & Family, CL Tobacco, Tom Goldtooth, Joe Catches, Sylvia Tobacco & Family, Ann Tobacco & family, Dorothy Tobacco & family, Wendell Yellow Bull, Matt True Blood & family, Joey & Lonni Yellow Hair & family, Old Man Joe Red Star, Mike Archambeau, Alex Moran & Family, Wakpamni Meals for Elders, Manderson Mesteth Families, Larry Lame & family, Misty Black Feather & family, Paul Jr., Alfred, & Moses Catches, Bart Long & family, Trey & Bev Weston, Carol & Keya Catches, Manou Cassel, Orly Deker Lauffer, Steve Two Bulls, Stephanie Reeves, Joseph White Bear Claws, Colion Short Bull, Audley Shields, Albert & Cubs American Horse, Carol Sweene, Cathy La Cross, Corrine Brave, Josephine Fast Horse, Mary Tobacco & family, Debby Howe, Judianne Burrus, Ida Yoder, Merci Worsham, Allen Humer, Edsel Catches & family, Colion Short Bull, Wilma Returns from Scout, “Pickles” Dreaming Bear family, Sitting Holy family, OJ Cuny, Jesse Cuny, Romaine Tobacco & family, Sheila Hawk Wings Dubray & family, Red Feather family, Jeff Catches, Lora Catches & family, Floyd “Boot” Running Hawk, Yvonne Sydell, Rowland Family, JoAnn Sierra & family, Bernice Catches & Family, Wakpamni Meals for Elders, Monument ICU, Dr. Jean Cunningham, HIS Outpatient, and Monument cardiologist
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD