Cathleen Jane Santeiu

Cathleen Jane Santeiu, age 74, of Davidson, NC, passed away on October 20, 2024. Born on November 25, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan. Cathleen’s life was defined by her kind spirit, strong character, and adventurous heart.

Cathleen, known for her intelligence and creativity, enjoyed a distinguished career as Vice President of IT for a luxury private jet airline company. Her professional journey was marked by her dedication to mentorship, where she inspired many women to pursue their own paths in the technology field. She made it a mission to connect with people around the globe, leaving a lasting impact on their lives through her support and guidance.

Cathleen had a close bond with her identical twin sister, Carolyn Jones, with whom she shared a love for travel. Together, they ventured to Europe an astonishing 25 times, creating memories that highlighted their adventurous spirits. Cathleen was an accomplished individual who loved to fix things, often switching classes in school and even jobs with her sister from time to time.

Beyond her professional life, Cathleen cherished her family. She is survived by her sister, Carolyn Jones (Sonny); son, Chris Santeiu (Alice); brother, Richard Szmagaj (Diana); and her grandsons, Romain and Lucas Santeiu. They were the joy of her life, and she relished the time spent playing games and tackling puzzles together. Cathleen's warm and engaging personality shared light within her family and community; her brave, intelligent, and adventurous nature resonated with everyone she encountered.

As a lifelong learner, Cathleen was dedicated to mastering French as a second language and was recently embarking on writing a novel alongside her sister, further testament to her creativity and passion for exploration.

Cathleen is predeceased by her parents, Leo A. Szmagaj and Helen Irene Gapa Szmagaj, and her memory will be honored by those she leaves behind. Her legacy of kindness, strength, and creativity will forever remain in the hearts of her loved ones and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Huntersville branch of the Levine Cancer Institute of Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Atrium Health Foundation at https://AtriumHealthFoundation.org, VIA Health Partners at https://www.viagiving.org/one-time-giving or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate.