Catherine Lamas Wiltz

Catherine Lamas Wiltz, 70, of Biloxi passed away peacefully in the care of St. Joseph Hospice in Gulfport in the early hours of January 19, 2025. Her son Jason was by her side. 

Catherine was born on September 26, 1954, in Biloxi, where she attended Sacred Heart Girls High and played the flute in the kilted marching band. After graduating in 1972, she worked as an assistant in the Gulfport offices of Dr. Daniel Conwill, III, and made plans to become a nun. These plans changed when she encountered Thomas Wiltz of Biloxi and his vintage Ford Mustang. The two married in 1974 and had two children, Elizabeth Katie and Jason Michael Wiltz. 

When illness left Thomas unable to continue working in his family auto parts business, Catherine opened Wee Buddies, an in-home daycare which she operated for more than 30 years. During this time, she served as a loving caretaker to literally hundreds of Gulf Coast children who will always remember her simply and affectionately as “Miss Cathy.” Miss Cathy was a warm-hearted, devout Catholic who loved spending time with her friends and family. She was a tremendous fan of pop music from the 1960s and 70s (especially the Bee Gees) and would often entertain her loved ones by putting on headphones and enthusiastically lip-syncing to her favorite songs. She was also a great lover of movies who frequently peppered her conversations with dialogue borrowed from favorites like Young Frankenstein, The Big Lebowski, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. She will be remembered for her outgoing personality, her amazing cooking and hosting skills, and her inimitable sense of humor.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, Harold (“Flash”) and Verne Lamas. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Thomas Wiltz; her children, Elizabeth (“Katie”) and Jason (“J.”) Wiltz of Biloxi; her brothers, Thomas Lamas of Jackson and James (“Jimmy”) Lamas of Ocean Springs, and their wives Carmen and Jennifer, respectively; her mother-in-law, Helen Wiltz of Biloxi; her sisters-in-law, Emilie Wiltz of New Orleans and Anna Card of O’Fallon, Illinois; her brother-in-law, Bruce Card of O’Fallon, Illinois; her nieces, Jessica Lamas, Madeleine McLain, and Kathleen Broussard; her nephews, Joseph Lamas, Christian McLain, and Nicholas Broussard; her grandnieces, Josie and Janie Cordera; and her grandnephews, Henry and Jackson Lamas, all of whom she loved very dearly and prayed for daily. 

The family would like to thank all of Catherine’s caregivers at Memorial Hospital and St Joseph Hospice for their professional and kindhearted care. 

Visitation will take place from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Catholic Church in Biloxi on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Mass will follow at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, Catherine’s family asks that you consider making a donation in her name to Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Catholic Church. Plans for a Celebration of Life event will be announced in September. 

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Catherine Lamas Wiltz.