Kathleen Cherrie Keast

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of our mother, Kathleen Cherrie Keast (nee Duffin) of Halifax who passed away on February 14th at the age of 79. Kathleen was born on July 20th, 1942, in Musselburgh, Scotland to James and Margaret (Tiffney) Duffin.

Kathleen graduated from Craiglockhart teachers’ college in 1962 and went on to teach at St. Mary’s in Bathgate. In 1967, she married her high school sweetheart, Pat Keast and they moved to St. Andrews. Kathleen taught school at St. Clement’s in Dundee before they immigrated to Toronto in 1970 where she taught school and was involved with the church.

In 1983, Kathleen and Pat moved with their family to Halifax. Kathleen helped run the religious education program at St. Pius X and later was the Religious Education Coordinator until her retirement in 2001.

Kathleen was active in the church communities of St. Pius X and Saint Benedict, especially within religious education, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the CWL, various choirs, and visiting parishioners who were unable to attend church.

After Pat passed in 2016, Kathleen moved into an apartment in Clayton Park where she met many new friends and enjoyed her social time there.

She will be sadly missed by family, friends, and the communities she was part of.

Kathleen is predeceased by her husband Pat, and her sisters Isobel (John) and Brenda (Brian). She is survived by her sons Liam (Brenda) and James (Stephanie), her grandchildren Isaac, Kate, and Ella, her sister Margaret (Ronnie), and many nieces and nephews in Scotland.

As per Kathleen’s wishes there will be no public visitation and the family has chosen cremation. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Saint Benedict's Parish in Halifax on Wednesday, February 23rd at 12:15 pm. In accordance with the Nova Scotia Proof of Full Vaccination Policy, proof of full vaccination and photo ID will be required to attend the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

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