But, Catalina, named after her grandmother, shared with her more than this characteristic. Her grandmother, a hardy survivor who had left Jamaica early in the 20th century for Costa Rica to find work, made sure her grandchildren learnt English and also made Catalina do a Woolsey Hall (UK-based) course.Values
Her grandmother had instilled in Catalina the value of education. In her own mind, she said, "I observed that there was absolutely no way you can make it in Jamaica without papers (certification)."
Catalina passed all her Senior Cambridge subjects. The results said, 'Catalina McKenzie - Grade 1'. Others might have been surprised at her distinctions, but she was not.
She went on to do her advanced level subjects and found employment in the government service, holding several jobs in the island's Parish Councils as acting secretary manager. In the 1970s she completed a BSc in Public Administration.
Growing up in Costa Rica, she never knew what it was to be without a permanent address so it was her own determination (although she was married), that lead to the purchase of land in Havendale and the construction of her first home for $15,000 at a time when most construction experts were giving her quotes of over 40,000 pounds sterling.
Working long days travelling from Kingston to jobs in Spanish Town, Morant Bay, Port Maria and Port Antonio (she moved to Kingston as she could not afford the boarding costs of her children who were attending high school) Catalina still found time to ensure that each child was drilled in their time's tables, Spanish, mental arithmetic, English and verbal reasoning.
With Catalina Hammond the classroom was also at home.
Home work was done in the mornings. By 7:30 a.m. it was all done. Evenings were spent working on their academic weaknesses. "I concentrated on what they could not do" she explains. Each topic would be thrashed out for a week, until the son or daughter 'got it'.
It was not all the time that Catalina could afford a helper, so that all of this tutoring was accompanied by housework and the sewing of every stitch of clothing worn by herself and the girls. Catalina hated sewing and today thanks the Lord that she is no longer forced to do it, but in those days of being a virtual single Mom the sewing patterns were used to make every dress.
There were times, she said when they wanted things and she just could not tell them that she could do no more. The boys for whom she could not sew, might have suffered for this.
"I survived with valium and God" she admits.
She also taught the children to play the piano herself, having been taught as a child.
Today, her four children are all doing well for themselves. Daughter Christine Hammond-Gabbadon ( who she proudly notes is a Christian ) is a paediatrician. Son Orville Hammond is a jazz and concert pianist who is based in the United States.
Know where they are
"The thing about raising a child is that you should always know where they are, every minute of the day," Catalina Hammond states.
On reflection, she says, she might have been a little less strict, but she was alone and "what is a single mother with no support from relatives to do?"
Keith Hammond, her other son, is a dentist. Her 'baby' and last daughter Toni-Ann Hammond, is attending law school in Atlanta in the United States
Catalina has embraced the changes of life without fear. Forced to retire early (at 56) because of 'Mayoral problems', she nowadays, spends her days on piano playing, surfing the Internet, talking to her grandchildren or having fun with a group of friends called the 'girlie gang'.
In April, the gang spent a very restful weekend on the North Coast.
She credits her financial stability to the buying and selling of land, a hobby which started when a Costa Rican friend of her father's gave her 200 pounds sterling she bought the first piece.
Her happiness, today, she fully credits to God, who she explains she talks to regularly and who she believes answers her directly. "I am a Baptist," she says, but "I am more spiritual than they."
"How can you be lonely?" Mrs. Hammond asks. "There is one person who is always around and that is God."
Her faith in God, she states, is the secret of whatever we see in her life and would wish to label 'success'.
