Catherine Lea Salvatori Donnelly

December 8th, 2023

Read by Kathy Schantz at St. Edmund’s Church

Today we are here to celebrate the life of Kay Donnelly and to offer a Mass to honour her in her favourite house of God.

She had a wonderful life full of experiences of travel, jobs she loved and excelled at as a chef at the Capilano Golf and Country Club, and at the Ship of the Seven Seas and a caterer in her own business. She loved being a mother of five children, one daughter Sandy (Pete) and four boys Reg (Yumiko), Joe (Carole), Dave and Mike (Diana). She met her husband John Henry Donnelly during the war, and even though they were 10 years apart in age, they fell in love. She was only 16 years old and had to have her mother’s permission to marry. Her mother could see that John was a good man and would take care of her daughter. And he did.

She was athletic most of her younger years and loved helping her kids to try sports such as baseball and football as well as helping them excel in their other interests such as paragliding, skiing, art and magic.

Kay was always involved in St. Edmund’s church with the Catholic Women’s League as president, and the Legion of Mary at Holy Trinity Church. She enjoyed her roles here, and loved saying that her secretary would look after this or that.

We all knew Kay by the unique way she made each of us feel. She loved being the greeter at the church on Sundays to welcome everyone entering for Mass. She only wanted to spread cheer and compliments to everyone she encountered and offer prayers to those in need as well as prayers of thanks for many blessings. She had many praying partners, many who considered her as a mother and a friend such as Diana, her daughter-in-law, Douglas McDonald, who faithfully made sure she attended any church function she could attend, and Kathy Schantz, who even though she moved out of province, kept in touch with Kay and prayed together. These are but a few of her friends.

Lately, she was part of our Cousins Conference Calls, where we meet once a month to keep in touch with mom’s family who live in other provinces to keep our family bonds strong. We enjoyed hearing her stories of when she and her siblings were young.

We have been blessed to have her in our lives for so long. She wondered why she was living for 97 years – what was her purpose? I can’t imagine a higher purpose than all that she has accomplished in giving people hope, love, charity, dignity, and purpose.

God Bless you Kay…Mom!