Kathleen Francis Henry Gale

Peacefully on Sunday November 23, 2008 in her 76th year. Beloved wife of Frank of 57 years. Loving mother of Helen Abbott, Dan, Kathy Neil, Lisa Hawley and Jim. Nannie to 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Friends may call at the Thompson Funeral Home 530 Industrial Parkway South, Aurora 905-727-5421 on Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Funeral Service in the Chapel on Thursday November 27th 2008 at 1:30 p.m. For those who wish, donations in memory of Kay may be made to the Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation.

Kay was born in Toronto to Martin and Christine Henry. Kay had 7 siblings. Oldest being Mary Jean (Jin), then came Martin jr.(Soccar), Kathleen (Kay), Patrick, Joseph, Frankie, Rosemary (Rose) and the youngest being Helen who was later raised by Kay as her Mother, Christine tragically passed away on Kay's wedding day on August 25th, 1951. A tragic loss that stayed with Kay her entire life. Helen was only 2 years old at the time and knows only the stories Kay and other family memebers have told her about her mother. Rosemary was 4 and was raised by older sister Jin. This Irish based family grew up close dispite the break up of the family at an early age. Many years of grand family parties were held at Kay and Franks home in King City. Corn roasts as we called them were held every year for many years with bag pipes a blazen.

Kay married Frank, her sweet heart and first and only love at age 18. Frank lovingly built their family home brick by brick. Kay contributed with adding newspaper articles, and items of the family to the ground and walls so that some day people would have treasures of the family to find and research. The 2 1/2 acre property still stands today where Frank continues to live. Kay and Frank raised their own 4 children, Dan, Kathy, Lisa and Jim + (1 Helen) on the homestead giving each of the children roots they could be proud of and as the years passed brought their spouses, children, and grandchildren to. More than 50 years have passed and property has flurished under their loving care. It was a joy for us to bring our kids home to my parents home to be cared for and able to experience the countryside with simple honest values. Kay and Frank cared for their grandchildren each in turn as grandparents did. We enjoyed each season as it came. Winter with snow mobiles and toboggans, summer with swimming pools and swings, fall with all the colours that blossomed all around us. Nature was at one out there and we respected it as we were taught to. I am so proud of my upbringing and have nothing but warm memories of my Mother and Father. Two people who cared and loved us so much and it shows with the strong bond we have with each of them. Family is number one. First and foremost. The rush of every day seemed to stand still back then. We had many pets which taught us the circle of life and death. We cared for our pets and understood each had only so long on this earth which is true for each of us. Hard knocks from life but that is what it is. Life!

Kay was laid to rest at the nearby cemetary in Kettleby. A small town as much a part of her past as anything else. She now looks upon us from Heaven above. Kay was an honest, wholesome person who taugh her kids all the right things.. She is sadly missed every day but we all feel so close to her still, as if she is in the air we breath. We not only repeat phrases she used to say but we do so many things that brings the memory of her into our daily lives. Frank is missing his dear wife, probably the most as they shared over 60 years together. Loving, Caring and living. We all knew it was Mom's time as her body was tired but letting go was the hardest thing to do. What is right can be the most difficult. Not a moment goes by that we don't think of her. I hope that never changes. I want to remember every detail as if it was yesterday.