Kathleen Fern (Crowley) Coulis

“Live, Love, Laugh” epitomized her life.

It is with heavy hearts, that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Grandmother, great grandmother and partner, Kathleen (Kay) Coulis, on February 21 after a short illness. Kay was born in Kenora, to Will and Bernice (Bailey) Crowley, on August 8, 1930. She is predeceased by her parents, her five sisters, her loving husband, Cliff, and her youngest daughter, Dorothy Bojey.

She will be sorely missed by her large extended family, her children, Jack Coulis (Carol), Jillian Lowe, Tim Coulis, Tom Coulis (Susan), Laura Mychalyshyn (Dale), Deb Coulis (Rand), Melissa Thompson (Greg), her fourteen grandchildren, Ryan Coulis (Deb), Tyler Coulis (Kolee), Jacquie Coulis (Caleb), Jennifer Coulis, Leslie Coulis, Luke Coulis (Kate), Jed Coulis, Morgan Coulis (Ryan), Troy Coulis (Bailey), Josh Mychalyshyn (Kayla), Courtney Mychalyshyn (Mike), Cody Mychalyshyn (Tatiana), Melissa Thompson (Greg).

Also terribly missing Kay is Len Jackson and Kay’s partner for the last 25 years as well as his children, Michael, Debbie, Pam and their families.

Kay also leaves behind her pride and joy, her great grandchildren, Haydn, Georgia and Hunter Coulis, Mack and Piper Coulis, Blaise, Alandra and Harlee Poulin, Charleigh and Emme McMahon, Brantley Coulis, Julia, Storm and Axton Mychalyshyn, Cooper, Quentin and Makenah Thompson and her best-little helper, Theo Mychalyshyn.

Kay grew up during the depression, and loved to tell us stories of what life was like then. Although it was a hard life, she spent many happy summers at the camp at Clearwater Bay, playing with her niece, Shirley McKay. She tells how her mother scraped together the 75 cents for each piano lesson that she and Shirley took. Kay wrote “My mother was a hard task master, and we had to practice one hour every day. Looking back, she gave me a great gift and I am thankful because she sacrificed a lot to give us that training”. Kay went on to become the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Kenora when she was 25, and played most every Sunday until she was in her 80’s. She told us how a couple of times, she would finish the service, and head right to the hospital to have a baby. Kay put her heart and soul into her music, and the entire congregation loved listening to her. Her music and her church were a huge source of her peace.

She met Cliff when she was 19, and as she liked to say, “that was that”! They married August 15, 1953 in Hamilton, Ontario. Life was a struggle for the young family, with six children, and employment irregular. But Kay always made Christmas a magical time for her family. Hers was the house that the extended family gathered at, and music and laughter surrounded us. “I love my family” was something we heard her say so often.

Kay had many careers throughout her life, and had an impact upon all those who spent time with her. She especially loved her last job which was with the Kenora Police Department, as a bylaw enforcement officer. She enjoyed working downtown, talking to people, and keeping an eye on what was happening in her town. Her kids jokingly referred to her job as a street walker. Once she retired, she spent time traveling (either with Len or her daughters and daughter in-laws) and making memories on those journeys. She was so excited to travel to Milan, Italy, to where her father was born, and her grandmother sang at the opera house. And she was awed to see the ancient city of Ephesus, and climb Mount Vesuvius, and walk through Pompeii. Traveling with her was always a joy!

Kay’s life is one that deserves to be celebrated. Due to the Global Pandemic, the family has chosen to postpone the celebration of her life, until a time that it is safer for all.