Katherine Margaret Kierstead

In addition to her husband Gordon (Mac) Kierstead, Kay was predeceased by her parents Wilson and Margaret Thompson and her sister Mildred Murray.

Mom was an elementary school teacher for more than 35 years, starting at the tender age of 17 teaching grades 1 to 4 in a two-room schoolhouse in Dawsonville. She spent most of her career teaching Grade 4 at Tide Head Elementary School. Over the years, she added to her teaching credentials by taking correspondence courses while working full time and raising a family.

Mom was a long-time and highly active member of both the Glen Levit United Church and the Glen Levit Women’s Institute. She took part in walk-a-thons, suppers, bake sales, and various other fundraisers. Naturally, her church involvement included extending her teaching skills to Sunday School classes.

Mom was also a dedicated supporter of community activities such as the Diamond Dinner, winter carnival, and exercise classes. She would go to the bingo games because “it was for a good cause” even though bingo was not on her favourite activities list. She also volunteered at the 2003 Canada Games in Bathurst-Campbellton.

Mom enjoyed playing cards and board games (especially Scrabble!) with friends and family and, of course, tending to her bird feeders, vegetable and flower gardens, and lawn in the summer.

Kay is survived by her son Gordon (Linda), her daughter Roxanne (Ken), her daughter Shelley, three cherished grandchildren (Morgan, Anique, and Alex), four great-grandchildren (Kaitlin, George, Samantha, and Cassandra), and many nieces and nephews – including her “like another daughter to me” niece Kathy (Murray) Thomas.

The family extends a special thanks to the wonderful staff at Frederick Hall Nursing Home in Fredericton. The care and attention Mom received in the time she lived there was excellent. It became so clear in the last days of her time there how much genuine affection many of the staff had for her and that was very heartwarming for the family.

Donations to the Glen Levit United Church (Contact: Heather Cooling) in memory of Kay are welcome. If you choose to send flowers, please do not send lilies. (They are the only flower that Mom strongly disliked.)

The family will welcome family and friends at Maher’s Funeral Home in Campbellton on Wednesday, May 27 from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

There will be a funeral service for Kay at the Glen Levit United Church on Thursday, May 28 at 2:00pm, followed by a reception at the Glen Levit Fire Hall.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.maherfuneralhomes.com for the family.