Catherine “Cat” Anne O’Meara

Catherine Anne O’Meara (Cat), 37, passed away with family by her side at Maine

Medical Center in Portland following a courageous 2 month battle after surviving

cardiac arrest resulting from a severe asthma attack. Born March 23, 1989 at

Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford, it was apparent very early on that

Cat’s vibrant, red hair would foreshadow the intense and fiery journey her life

would take.

After graduating from Sanford High School in 2007, Cat lived a life far from the

ordinary.

Like the proverbial ‘cat with nine lives’, Cat’s life reflected plenty of adventure,

impulse, and a certain penchant for mischief. No matter where life led, or what

kind of adversity she was facing, she never allowed herself to stay down long.

She would redirect her intense energy to face the challenge head on and claw

her way back up no matter the depths she traveled. The driving force behind

that resilience and determination to overcome any challenge was her greatest

love in life, her son Zaivier. Together they enjoyed card games, baking, or just

simply sharing funny pictures or text messages with each other. She dedicated

time each week to make sure her presence was a constant in his life and that he

knew how much she loved him and how much she was making efforts to be the

mother he deserved.

If you ask any of her work family, they will all tell you Cat was dedicated to being

a valued team member and that she was an extremely hard worker. She showed

great pride in her position, was reliable, often walking miles to and from shifts,

and was dedicated to ensuring her fellow team members were taken care of

inside and outside of work. The intensity of the way she lived her life mirrored

the intensity in which she supported and loved her friends. She was the friend

you could count on to be in your corner, judgement-free and with no

expectations.

Yes, periods of her life were marked by intense internal battles, but they cannot

overshadow one aspect of her life that remained constant throughout — her

desire to help others. She particularly loved being a CNA, a pharmacy

technician, volunteering with Caring Unlimited, and most recently serving the

public in her role as a shift leader at Cumberland Farms. Her desire to help

people was evident in those positions and also in lesser known acts like taking

care of family and friends through health struggles or lending a hand (or a tent)

to a friend in need. Even facing her final battle, she was helping her healthcare

team learn about clinical recovery and providing information to help future

families facing these impossible situations. She will be deeply missed by her

family and her friends, and if there is any truth to the idea of nine lives, those

who loved her can take some comfort in imagining she’s already figuring out

how to make the most of the next one.

Predeceased by grandparents, Rita O’Meara, Patricia and Carlton “Mack”

McDaniel, she is survived by her son, Zaivier Hensley, parents Thomas and

Vicky O’Meara of Eliot, sister Michelle Hackett and husband Matthew Jr.,

nephews Matthew III, Thomas, and Nathaniel Hackett and niece Shannon

Hackett of Sanford.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, with respect for her love of rescue

animals, to the ASPCA.

Cat’s family would like to express sincere gratitude to the individuals and

healthcare team who diligently cared for her clinically – especially the Neuro ICU/

Critical Care providers and the Bean-5 team at Maine Medical Center in

Portland. Additional thanks go to the many spiritual guides who provided the

family comfort and direction, and provided Cat tools to follow the path to

everlasting life.

Funeral services will be held at St Therese of Lisieux, Sanford, ME at 11am on

May 5, 2026. Burial to follow immediately after at St Ignatius Cemetery in

Sanford