[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22547-22548]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE BIRTHDAY OF CATHERINE GIVENS RIFENBERG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the birthday of 
Catherine Givens Rifenberg, born Catherine Hanorah Givens on October 
16, 1905 in Holland Center, Ontario, Canada.
  Born to Hanorah Kenefick Givens and James Givens, Katherine was the 
youngest of her six brothers and two sisters: Robert ``Jack,'' James 
``Ted,'' Philip, Leo, Albert, Harvey, Mary and Margaret. Catherine and 
her family faced several tragedies, including the early death of their 
mother and the total destruction by fire to their family home. As a 
result, Catherine was raised by her mother's relatives, the Kenefick 
family, and remained in Canada through her early teenage years.
  As a young adult, Catherine migrated to the United States, settling 
in Detroit, Michigan with her brother, Albert, and his wife, Ruby, 
before moving to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada to join her sister 
Mary. Catherine finally moved to Buffalo, New York in the mid 1920's 
where she continues to live her long, healthy and happy life.
  Catherine Givens married Francis Rifenberg in 1930 and the two of 
them spent the greater part of their adult lives together in the 
Elmwood Avenue area of Buffalo, an area that Catherine truly loves for 
its excitement, diversity and warmth of the people. She has resided in 
the Stuyvesant Apartments for the last twenty years, where she 
continues to cook her own meals and be amazingly self-sufficient.

[[Page 22548]]

  Catherine worked as a waitress for over forty-five years in Buffalo. 
Her genuine love of people and warm and welcoming ways made her a 
favorite at area restaurants; including, the renowned, historic 
``Kathryn Lawrence's Tea Room,'' ``Laube's Old Spain'' and ''The Place 
Restaurant.''
  Catherine has kept close contact with her beloved Givens family 
offspring living in the United States and Canada. Her large family of 
nieces and nephews and extended family of three generations fondly 
refer to her as Aunt Kitty. Kitty has enjoyed a friendship of over 
sixty years with her dear friend Mary Marchese and she will happily 
tell the world that Dr. Jeremiah O'Sullivan has the answer to all her 
health care needs.
  Catherine Givens Rifenberg, residing in the City of Buffalo, will be 
celebrating her 100th Birthday on the 16th day of October in the year 
2005. I join today with her family and friends from near and far in 
celebrating this very special occasion.

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