Catherine Churchill

Wife of Churchill Society President Cataloged the Paintings of Sir Winston Churchill and Devoted Herself to Family and Gardening

The International Churchill Society (ICS) is deeply saddened to report that Catherine, the wife of ICS President Randolph Churchill, died last month at the family home in Kent. She was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She shone brightly all through her life and supported Randolph tirelessly with ICS events in the UK, the US, and Canada as well as working to record and catalog the history of Winston Churchill the artist.

Born in the Bahamas and educated in Nassau, Trinidad, and later in London, Catherine was fortunate to have an exhilarating youth. She met Randolph, her first love, at the early age of seventeen at a dance at the Hyde Park Hotel in London. They were married when she was just twenty-three on 21 March 1992 at St Mary’s Church, Westerham with a reception at Chartwell. They later settled nearby and became the parents of four beloved children.

Catherine adored Art history and studied at the British Institute in Florence before working in the Victorian painting department of Sotheby’s. Later, she ran the Director’s Office in the National Art Collections Fund.

Although never a smoker, Catherine was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2020. Throughout her illness, she showed immense courage, grace, and—most of all—honesty, while drawing strength and hope from her family and friends. She battled stoically through months of intense treatment and passed away peacefully after a day spending time with her family and drawing in her beloved, “miraculous garden.” Her childhood spent in the Caribbean inspired her love of nature and vibrant colours.

In his eulogy for his wife, Randolph said: “Catherine was and always will be my rock. She was my safe harbour and best friend. She was the constant sunshine in my life. She was the zest and happiness of each day. I always called her “Bears,” and she gave me the constant warmth and hugs of a loving bear. She gave me the most wonderful happy family. For me, Catherine will live on in [our children] Serena, Zöe, Alice, and John. They all share her happy and engaging disposition, love of life, and care of others. Catherine was the one and only love of my life. I will always look to the stars and see her on a distant tropical island, with a hibiscus in her hair, a bird of paradise in her hand, and a smile on her face. She will always be in my heart.”

Catherine Zoë Spencer Churchill, born 16 August 1968, died 10 June 2022

Bulletin #169 — July 2022