Mrs. Gladys Catherine Kortz

Jan. 16, 1922 - June 4, 2014

Gladys passed away peacefully on June 4th in the loving company of family at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

At the age of 80, Gladys decided that in order to maintain her independence she needed to be able to drive. So, the first thing she did was buy her own car. The second thing she did was to set about learning to drive so she could get her license - to drive the car she had already purchased. After a couple of false starts, Gladys achieved her goal and maintained a spotless driving record until the end of her life. (Well, there was one 'incident' with a backhoe but that machine should not have been parked there anyway.)

Her determination to get her driving license at an age when many people give theirs up surprised many of her acquaintances. But our family was not surprised because when Gladys made up her mind, it stayed made up.

Gladys Sutherland was born in 1922 to a farming family in Oxford, Ontario. During the Second World War, she served her country as a nurse's aid and worked at the Firestone factory in Woodstock, Ontario. That was where she met Steve Kortz during his term of service. The couple married in 1945 and returned to Steve's hometown of Kenora to build their home and start their family.

We will always remember Gladys as a kind and loving mother with a surprisingly wide stubborn streak. She was a gentle woman, easy-going and good-natured. She was admired and respected by all whom she came in contact with. Gladys was also capable of putting her foot down when she felt strongly about a situation.

Her eldest son Frankie liked to tell about a time when he was five or six years old and getting ready to walk to school. Gladys bundled him up and sent him on his way from the family home in Evergreen to the old Central school. Well, it was cold that day and little Frankie got halfway to school before he decided he was too cold to continue. He turned around and headed home. When he arrived, he told his mom why he'd come back. She said, "You were already halfway. If you had kept going you would have been there by now." Then she let him warm up before re-dressing him in his outside clothes and sending him back to school. Each time Frankie told the story, Gladys would always just shrug her shoulders and say, "Well, it didn't hurt him. He survived."

Gladys raised her children by example and helped them all develop a depth of character similar to her own. She guided without pushing, listened without judging and loved each member of her family unconditionally. Her own burdens she bore with strength and dignity.

She worked hard and won the respect and admiration of everyone she met. In later years, Gladys served as the family archive and could always be counted on to remember a name, an event or a detail everyone else had forgotten.

Tea at grandma's house was a ritual observed by every family member and no matter how large the family grew, there was always room for one more.

Gladys was predeceased by her parents John and Catherine Sutherland, siblings Lawrence and Lavinia, husband Steve, son Frank and grandson Jonathan. She is survived by, and will be sorely missed by, her children: Shirley Johnston (Peter), Marion Haines (Buzz), Dianne Derouin (George), David Kortz (Diana), Allan Kortz (Shirley), Lawrence (widow) Evelyn (George) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gladys was also blessed with 15 grandchildren and each of them have their own special memories of their grandma. She will be remembered lovingly by Angie Bowerman, Jason Kortz, Lydia Bagshaw (Jonathan), Troy Johnston (Leecole), Trish Sousa (John), Eric Johnston (Bonnie), Stephen Johnston, Tina Crespeigne (Mark), Tanya Laewetz (Dean), Ashley Haines (Jamie), Jennifer Derouin (Chuck), Jeffrey Derouin (Kari-Anne), Dynelle Rodriguez (Jeremy), Brian Kortz (Shelby), and Matthew Kortz as well as 18 great-grandchildren.

Gladys will be sadly missed by long time and dear friend Joanne Kowalik as well as Helen Abbey, Betty Gustafson, Marie Gabryluk, Elsie Lindsay, Stella Wilk, Carl Ostriznick (Sharon) and families; Special childhood friend Janette Ratcliffe and close family friend Heather Rioch-Culleton.

On behalf of the family: Thank you to all who offered love and support as well as to the 3rd floor nursing staff and to Dr. Spielman for the care and compassion you gave mom while in hospital.

Thank you to Brian Campbell and homecare staff, to Dr. Jim Beveridge Thank You So Much for the caring, affectionate and respectful way you treated Mom, not only at the end of her life but over so many decades of being our family doctor.

A Celebration of Life for Gladys will be held at the Minis Hall on August 9, 2014 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm for friends and loved ones to attend.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Lake of the Woods Hospital Foundation would greatly be appreciated.

Online condolences may be made at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com

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