Coakwell, Kathleen Ellen (Kay)

February 17, 1922 – Hanover, Ontario

June 14, 2016 – High River, Alberta

Kay Coakwell passed away peacefully at the age of 94 years at the Sunrise Village Care Centre on June 14, 2016.

Kay will be sadly missed by her sons, Dale (Joan) and Gerry (Barb), grandchildren Darren (Emily), Lisa (Dean), Dwaine, Todd (Cindy), Tim (Lindi) and great grandchildren Brooklynn, Reid, Anna, Leah, Avery, Rowen and Kaylan.

Born in Hanover, Ontario to Catherine and Bert Agombar, she had 3 siblings: Myrtle, Durham, Bert Agombar and Muriel Wendorf, all whom have predeceased her.

Kay lived a full and eventful life.

A childhood of memories playing hop scotch, singing, hiking, fishing, skating and gardening. She enlisted in the RCAF July 14, 1942 and served in various locations during WW2. Making $1.10 a day, hair one inch above the collar with a black tie; she served Canada well. At St. John’s, Newfoundland she spent her time in the operational end of air and sea reconnaissance.

Kay met and married Lorne Coakwell during the war years. He was also enlisted in the RCAF. They returned to Lorne’s parents farm near Forgan, Saskatchewan. Kay enjoyed her life helping to till the soil, gardening, being involved in the community and raising her two sons. Kay loved the beauty of the purple flowered flax crops in the spring and the busy harvest season. Lorne passed away in 1967.

After Lorne’s passing she relocated to Saskatoon and was administrative assistant to the vice-principal of Aden Bowman Collegiate.

In 1973 Kay loved to Kelowna. Two major events on her travel to Europe in 1990 were singing with the Kelowna International Choir at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and laying a wreath on behalf of the Choir at Westerbork, Holland at the side where many Jewish people were shipped by rail to the German concentration camps in Poland.

Kay was an avid international traveler, sports fan, bridge player, gardener, swimmer and church choir member along with teaching Sunday school for many years.

Kay moved to Calgary in 2006 to be closer to family and then to Sunrise Village in High River in 2014.

Kay’s family would like to thank the staff at Sunrise Village-Rosegate for their compassionate care given to Mom throughout her residence there and most recently in her time of need.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, Saskatoon, Sask. on Friday, June 24, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. If desired, in memory of Kay, memorial donations may be made to the Sheppard Family Park Society, 1201 – 5 Street S.E., High River, AB. T1V 1J2 or to the Alzheimers Society of Canada (www.alzheimer.ca). To email condolences, please visit www.snodgrassfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements in care of Snodgrass Funeral Home, High River. Ph. 403-652-2222.