Beatrice Kathleen “Kathy” Standing passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2004 at Peter Dawson Lodge at the age of 75 years.
Kathy was born September 12, 1928 at King’s Street, Plymouth England to Edward and Rosa Mabel Jane Brown (nee Cunningham). She attended Camel’s Head School from the age 3 to 14 until she felt it necessary to leave school to help support her family. Kathy later returned to night school to complete her grade 12. World War II broke out when she was 11and along with her bothers and sisters Kathy spent many hours huddled around a flashlight or candle in air raid shelters. It was at times like this that instilled for her the need for strong family ties. The same ties Kathy carried forward to her own family.
At the age of 14 Kathy first job was scrubbing floors and counters at a sweets factory, working for 10 shillings a month. At 16 she move to Exeter and worked as a servant girl in a large well-to-do manor. When Kathy reached the age of 17 she joined the Women’s Land Army. During that time Kathy met a Royal Marine by the name of Alfred and they were married on July 26, 1947.
Following Alfred’s discharge, they both worked in the mills in Northern England. In 1958 they came to Canada and ended up on a farm in Duncan, BC. Alfred worked various jobs on the Island usually farm related. There the couple adopted their two oldest children and eventually had one of their own. In 1972 they moved to Williams Lake where the children completed school and Alfred and Kathy worked until their retirement. Kathy worked as a waitress most of these years until her health forced her to retire at the age of 60. They were both active members of the local chapter of The Canadian Diabetic Association and Meals on Wheels. Alfred passed away in 1998 and due to health problems in 2000 Kathy came to live nearer her son in Vulcan and became a resident of Peter Dawson Lodge in March 2001.
Kathy filled her days sewing, playing cards, or when the weather was nice she would love to walk downtown. She didn’t really need a reason to go to town. She would love to pop by the Senior Centre to socialize or maybe play a hand or two of Canasta or Cribbage. She also loved the day trips the Lodge would go on to surrounding communities. Kathy didn’t let a lot of moss grow under her feet. She enjoyed going to Bible Study and loved to attend church with her family.
Kathy was a loving and caring mom to her two daughters Heather (Tim) Wolstenholme of Williams Lake, BC and Patricia (Gary) Payne of Fort Macleod and her son Phillip (Jocelyn) Standing of Vulcan. She was a loving grandmother to Kyle, Kourtney, Adam, Curt, Tristan and Tara. Also a caring aunt to many nieces and nephews. Kathy leaves behind brothers Brian and David and sisters May, Violet, Flori and Ernestine in England.
Kathy was predeceased by her husband Alfred, her parents, her brothers Teddy, Dennis and Reggie, and her infant sister Violet and sister Nora.
A Celebration of Kathy’s Life will be held Monday, January 26, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Aldhelm’s Anglican Church, Vulcan with father (Cannon) Robert Greene officiating.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Beatrice’s memory can be made to either the Canadian Diabetes Association #105 7500 Macleod Trail SE Calgary T2H 0L9 or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.