July 16, 1961 - April 4, 2015
Kathleen was born in Winnipeg, MB on July 16, 1961 and died in Sechelt, BC on April 4, 2015. In between those dates she packed in several lifetimes of living; from her childhood homes in Coquitlam and Mission and then as an adult in Sumas, Washington, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Toronto and Rome. Kathleen finally settled on the Sunshine Coast in 2006.
In her twenties her energy was epic. During the years she worked for Canada Post as a letter carrier, Kathleen completed two triathlons in the space of one week. She was also a licensed travel agent and, though she rarely drank, completed her bartending certificate.
She was a stewardess on a billionaire's yacht, both in Florida and the Mediterranean. She was an accomplished cook, seamstress, quilter, gardener and knitter. She loved to windsurf, camp, cycle and canoe. In her late twenties, while still working at Canada Post, she completed her teaching degree and started teaching full-time. Kathleen's dedication manifested in classrooms that held a special magic replete with draped fabric ceilings and quiet corners with bean bag chairs that nurtured each of her students.
Kathleen's truest vocation and deepest joys came with the births of her children, Nicholas, Hanna and Gabriel, who became her biggest priority in life. Many Christmases found her still sewing in the wee hours of the morning, making sure each of her children had new pajamas under the tree. She believed in enriched learning and filled their home with music and art, always encouraging her gorgeous children to follow their dreams and passions.
Kathleen was an independent and very strong woman, a familiar figure on the Sunshine Coast highway as she rode her bike through every kind of weather to her various teaching jobs. Before her brain cancer diagnosis in July 2014, she was also very close to finishing her Masters degree.
Kathleen had a genuine and loud laugh and when she hugged you, you knew you'd been hugged with love. She enjoyed great food and made it a budget priority, second only to music. She relished walking on the beach or hiking in the forest near their home.
But most importantly, Kathleen created a sense of home wherever she went; whether the piano needed to be shipped to Rome, Toronto or the Sunshine Coast she made sure it happened.
Kathleen was not only a loving mother, but a loyal friend. She did everything with a fully engaged spirit and massive amounts of heart. She lived a large life and will be profoundly missed by her family and friends.
The family would like to thank Dr. Berinstein, the Shornecliffe hospice team, Dr. Thiessen, Dr. McKenzie and Rosemary Cashman at the BC Cancer Agency, as well as the local Home Care team. The family cannot begin to thank the local community enough for the incredible outpouring of support from everything to dinners, driving and endless errands.
The funeral service will take place at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5700 Nickerson Road in Sechelt at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday April 11, 2015.