1928 ~ 2023
My dear friend passed quietly on April 6, 2023 after a brief and peaceful period of letting go of this life.
Catherine was born in Lesmahagow, Scotland in 1928, but she usually said she was from Glasgow. She chose midwifery as a vocation when she was a teenager, emigrated to Canada in the ‘50s as a Registered Nurse/Midwife, and gratefully took out Canadian citizenship … her only caveat being that as a proud Scot she was somewhat loathe to pledge loyalty to the throne of England!
Catherine lived variously in Windsor ON, Edmonton AB, and Vancouver BC but when she discovered Salt Spring Island she knew she’d found her forever home. She was a nurse on staff at Lady Minto Hospital for many years, but also had a lifelong love of live theatre. After her retirement, she was able to devote copious hours of her time to the Salt Spring Players and many other societies ~ Theatre BC, Voice of Women, SS Seniors’ Society, SS United Church, the SPCA, as an original volunteer at ArtSpring, and also as an original volunteer at Meadowbrook.
While she lived independently until she was in her eighties, she happily gave up the burdens and chores of that lifestyle to live in Meadowbrook, then Braehaven, until she began to require more assistance and last year moved to Greenwoods.
I am eternally grateful to the staff of all three residences (and also the Extended Care Unit) for their patience, kindness, and understanding. They all took the time to get to know Catherine, learned to appreciate her acerbic wit and intelligence, and became good friends to both Catherine and myself.
A gathering to remember my friend is arranged for Monday, June 26, 2023 at 2 pm in the Salt Spring United Church hall. I look forward to renewing our mutual friendships. (Dawn Luker)
I had the pleasure of working with Catherine at Lady Minto Hospital. Catherine was a caring and dedicated Nurse.
thank you Gillian, that means a lot. <3
Dear Dawn — I am so sorry I won’t be able to attend the gathering for Catherine on Monday June, 26th.
Catherine delivered, along with Dr Nestman, Trinity Donnelly — my youngest.
I did not realize Catherine had hailed from Lesmahagow, I know it well.
Thank you for the lovely caring obituary you did for Catherine, I will be telling Bea Ellis all about it when I see her soon.
Christine Donnelly Ross
Christina, Catherine would have remembered you, as do I. I’m so pleased that someone else knows about Lesmahagow! Thank you for sharing with Bea and please give her my love as well <3
What a wonderful write-up about Catherine.
In the early ’70s I had the pleasure of working many shifts with her. She was dedicated to the care of every patient. She taught me so many many things during that time — skills that I took with me throughout my life.
Thank you for sharing her story with us.
She will be missed but not forgotten.
Lynda Blanchette (Grindle)
Lynda, how nice to hear from you. I am only now seeing your message, hence my delay in responding – I hope you are well – much love, d.