Catherine ‘Kay’ Logue
Date de décès : 20 avril 2019
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, great aunt and dear friend, Catherine Josephine ‘Kay’ Logue at the age of 98. She passed away quietly in her sleep at the Northside Community Guest Home on Saturday, April 20, 2019.
She was predeceased by her parents, Vince and Caroline ‘Carrie’ (Roach) Walsh; husband, John William Logue; brothers, Matt, Joe, Rob, Vince and Jim Walsh, and one sister, Rose Baldwin.
She is survived by her sister, Caroline Campbell; son, Pat (Rosemary) Logue; daughter, Kitty Condon; grandsons, Graeme and Brian Condon, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.
She was born in 1921 and grew up during prohibition, the Roaring 20's, the dirty 30's great depression, and the Second World War. She didn't come from money, her family didn't have a lot in a material way but they had each other.
She married John Logue the former station master at CN who passed away from a heart attack at the young age of 45. She found herself a widow with a young son and a baby girl. Her parents moved back from Toronto to live with her and offer all the support that they could. With their help and that of her brothers and sisters along with her own personal sacrifices she took great pride that her family never went without.
Two of her greatest joys in life were her grandsons Bryan and Graeme, she doted on them and spent many happy days with them either visiting them in the Halifax area when they were growing up or at the cottage in Georges River in the summer months.
She loved her cottage in Georges River, which was a focal point for all of her brothers and sisters and their families, both living here or visiting from away where the house would be open to all if that meant sleeping bags on the floor or outdoors in a big bell tent. The family were all together for barbecues, fishing, boating and swimming in the river. If any extended family member found themselves in town whether stranded in a snowstorm or were just visiting: there was always a cup of tea, a bite to eat, conversation, cards or a bed for the night.
North Sydney was her home, her community, her church. She was a faithful member of St. Joseph Church, North Sydney and loved to attend Mass and offer up that communion in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. She lived her faith on a daily basis! Whether that meant being the primary caregiver to her aging parents right up until the time of their death or reaching out into her community through CWL or Seniors Club to improve people's lives wherever she could. In her near 100 years on this planet the worst criticism she was ever heard to voice about anyone was, “they are a little different”. She didn't judge!
Later in life she travelled coast to coast throughout Canada. From the Tattoo and Daniel O'Donnel in Halifax to the big band sounds and jazz clubs in Toronto where she saw people like Tony Bennett and Holly Cole. She loved the Musicals, 42nd Street, The Phantom of the Opera. She loved the plays; Shakespeare in Stratford, Shaw in Niagara on the Lake, rode on the maid of the mist under the falls, had dinner at the top of the CN Tower, toured the Skydome and met the then Mayor Mel Lastman. In the west she travelled Vancouver Island, looked out from the highest point in the Rockies, visited Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise and stood at the top of the world on the mouth of a glacier.
She travelled all over Europe. She kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, attended Mass at Saint Peters in Rome, had an audience with Pope John Paul, they were the same age 82. Walked through the burial chambers of all of the earliest Christian conversions of the Romans and all of the Popes right back to St. Peter's Bones; marvelled at Michelangelo Sistine Chapel, she listened to Opera while riding in a gondola in Venice, drank peach Bellini's at the top of the Danielle, fed pigeons in St. Marks Square and met Elton John and David Furnish over lunch at the Cipriani.
She was scheduled for a trip to the Martyrs Shrine when she had the first of two falls which eventually put her in care at age 87. She was first at Harbourstone in Sydney for a few years and then transferred to the Northside Community Guest Home shortly after the new wing was built, so she could end her days in the town where she had lived all her life. She was home. She spent her last few years among family and friends sometimes sharing pizza and a glass of wine; regularly beating them at Crib. Her sister Caroline ever vigilant, who stood by her side through thick and thin, Marge Powers, Laurence and Sharon Jellow, her long-time friends and the many nieces and nephews and their families who visited whenever they could, filled her life. It was much appreciated.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. John Kirkpatrick, all the nurses, staff, and volunteers at the Northside Guest Home for their care and kindness in her later years, it did not go unnoticed. In one of my last visits with her I was having a conversation with one of her nurses and she told me: “Your mother is a lovely lady, she never complains, and she is very appreciative of anything that is done for her!”
That in many ways serves to sum up who she was. She would always say:
“Live one day at a time, don’t worry, because what will be will be and always count your blessings!”
Well, dearest Mom we always counted you as one of our greatest blessings! We will always love you and hold you forever in our hearts!
Visitation for Kay will be held from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Church with Rev. Doug MacDonald officiating. Burial will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Northside Community Guest Home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.wjdooley.com.
