Kathryn Louise Coldwell

My sister, Kathryn died Sunday; my only sibling. She lost her husband, Gene to Parkinson's Just a few weeks after her cancer diagnosis in June of 2023.

The time we spent together since the spring of 2023 totaled more than any other time since kathryn and Gene moved to the West Coast in 1969. In the late '70's, we would see each other for a few weeks each summer when their daughter Sher was a young girl. Those reunions became a regular occurrence when our parents moved into the in-law suite that Gene built. My visits stopped after our parent's death decades ago. Kathy's illness reconnected us. I flew out to be with her though Gene's funeral ,her chemotherapy, surgery and recovery. Over those days, weeks and months, we recounted bits and pieces of our childhood. As a teenageer she would blast her record player in our basement accompanying the popular crooners of the time. No longer having any albums in her house, I taught her to use Siri so she could bring to life her song choices at will. We laughed as I played comedy LPs that our parents had, such as "You Don't Have to be Jewish" and numerous Bob Newhart albums. We fondly recalled our mother assuming the lead in numerous skits based on those albums. I put up her Christmas tree and we listened to Paul Reid's Christmas Story, a Montreal CJAD radio favorite. We watched her favorite movies including "Shirley Valentine" and of course countless HGTV and cooking programs. There was never a night without "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" when we both shouted our guesses to the TV.

My last trip was in May. My intention of making sure she was settled in an assisted living facility quickly turned into the search for hospice care. Her cancer was back with a vengeance. During those last few rainy days in her home of 20 years, we began to go through her photo albums. Pictures outlined the story of our parent's early life together and the two daughters they raised followed by Kathy's life as a wife and mother. Snapshots throughout the decades captured Sunday evening and holiday dinners spent with our cousins, skating, CGIT camp, Cottage trips, cruises, and weddings. Numerous other events both big and small unfolded with each photo. This was the print that made her smile (photo shown above). she commented that she looked so happy. I was able to recall for her the backstory of that night. The black velvet two-piece outfit was ordered from Eaton's. The Fuchsia scarf which was part of the ensemble, was accidently sent separately to an address in St. Jerome. My father drove up "north" to get the scarf for her evening out and "saved the day". We reminded each other that afternoon that this was no small feat for our father driving to an unfamiliar location in the winter in the '60's Our parents wanted us to be happy. I think they did their part.

Sher is seeing to her wishes of being buried beside her husband in the Gaspeau Cemetery, Nova Scotia.

Rest peacefully my dear sister.