Catherine R. “Cathie” Lansdell, a retired director of the Ashland Preschool Center in Cockeysville who enjoyed spending time at the beach, died Monday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center of complications from anemia.

The Timonium resident was 69.

She was born Catherine Rich in Hartford, Conn., where she was raised by her grandparents and received her high school education.

Ms. Lansdell earned a bachelor's degree in 1969 in early childhood education from the University of Hartford and later obtained a master's degree in education from Towson University.

She was a teacher, then director, at the Ashland Preschool Center in Cockeysville, working there for more than 20 years until retiring last year.

She had recently returned there to work several days a week on a part-time basis, said her daughter, Karen MacLaren, of the Phoenix area of Baltimore County.

Ms. Lansdell enjoyed painting as well as arts and crafts. She also enjoyed visiting beaches in Hawaii.

“She collected furniture, art, rugs, tea cups and silver,” said Ms. MacLaren, who described her mother in an email as a “giving, caring, selfless and genuinely happy person.”

Her family will receive family and friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Lemmon Funeral Home, 10 W. Padonia Road, Timonium, when a a service celebrating her life will begin.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by a son, Robert “Rob” Lansdell of Eleele, Hawaii; and three grandchildren. Her marriage to Mark Lansdale ended in divorce.

— Frederick N. Rasmussen