Catherine O’Hara’s Brother Shares Memories of Her Final Days

Michael P. O’Hara recently opened up on his podcast, “Dream of a Beloved,” about his sister Catherine O’Hara and their interactions before her passing. He noted that in her last days, she wasn’t much for conversation, especially over the phone, as she lived in Los Angeles.

He described her death as “very unexpected and very, very sad,” but shared that a vivid dream he had shortly before she died felt like a poignant goodbye. “I always cherish the time I get to see my loved ones in a dream state,” he said. It was a beautiful moment where he felt he was holding her. To him, it seemed almost like a form of separation.

After her death, Michael continued to have dream encounters, which he found comforting. “Since then, I had a wonderful dream of visiting her,” he recounted. In that dream, she was busy decorating her new home and told him, “You can always sleep here, Michael. You can come and stay here any time you want.”

This dream brought back fond memories of their early years together. Michael reminisced about staying at her place while he was an apprentice at a hotel, recalling how much fun it was. “Yeah, it was pretty cool. But yeah, it was beautiful,” he added. It felt like Catherine was happy and busy in a different realm.

Michael wrapped up his podcast episode by emphasizing the emotional complexity of these dream visits, expressing a belief that our connections endure through dreams. “We are all interconnected,” he shared, “And love lasts no matter what. They are always with us.”

Catherine O’Hara, beloved for her roles in films like Home Alone and TV series such as Schitt’s Creek, passed away on January 30 at the age of 71. Her representative confirmed that she died at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.

First responders were called to her Brentwood home early in the morning, and she was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead hours later.

Catherine, originally from Toronto, gained fame through her comedic performances on SCTV and went on to have a successful career in film and television. Beyond her iconic roles, she reprised her character in Beetlejuice and appeared in recent projects, including The Last of Us and The Studio.

She is survived by her husband Beau Welch, their sons Matthew and Luke, and her siblings, among others.