On Sunday March 14, 2021, at Crofton Manor in Vancouver born on January 1, 1934 Kathleen was the beloved wife of Ian (deceased July 2020). Proud Mother of Ken (Sherrill), Heather (deceased 1963), Alix (Tom Scott), and Sheena Mair (Jeff Carter). Loving grandmother to Taylor (Bergen), Harrison, and Christian Mair, Gwen (Geoff), Angus, Sam, and Liam Scott. Kay will be remembered always with great love by her sisters Elaine Henderson and Marjorie Mitchell and by her nephews and nieces, grand nieces and nephews too, in the Henderson and Mitchell families – who all adored her.
She was a member of the Class of 1951 Lord Byng High School. Graduating in 1955 from University of British Columbia, Home Economics and a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In 1956, Kay completed a year long Dietetic Internship at The University of Oregon Medical School Hospitals and Clinics, Portland Oregon. In 1957 Kay joined the Vancouver School Board permanent teaching staff where she was a Home Economics teacher at Gladstone Secondary School. Kay married Ian in 1957 and they moved to Toronto where she worked at Bell Telephone as a dietician, in the era of a “staff cafeteria”. Kay and Ian returned to Vancouver in 1961 with their one-year-old son, Ken, on a cross-country train trip from London ON. to Vancouver.
The sudden loss of her second child Heather, in 1963, was devastating. Kay’s energy and deep love of Ian and Ken enabled her to recover her endless enthusiasm for life. Kay’s devotion to supporting and cheering on her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and close friend’s families every step of the way in their growing up and into adulthood was magnificent. She touched many with her love and kindness.
While raising her family, Kay’s dietetics freelance business enabled many wonderful work relationships. She worked for many years with B.C. Sugar Rogers’ Syrup as a dietician and food consultant, creating and producing several notable cooking booklets. She also worked part time at Edith Adam’s Cottage at The Vancouver Sun. After re-certifying with a fifth year in Education at U.B.C. in the 1970’s she returned to teaching at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School in the Culinary Trades program until her retirement from the Vancouver School Board at age 65.
Kay had many lifelong, and later in life friends, from her numerous involvements in her community. She was curious about the world around her, volunteering for many years at UBC Botanical Gardens, Friends of the Garden. She enjoyed trips with Ian, the Lindsay’s, the Bice’s, and Sheena to Scotland, France, England, Ireland and Italy. Kay also spent many happy times in Oakville ON together with Ian visiting Alix and her family.
Although she would not have described herself as a sports person, she was the greatest fan of her own children and grandchildren’s sporting activities. She was intelligent, generous, determined, very liberal minded, independent, and a wonderful life partner to her husband Ian. She had endless love for her children and boundless love for her grandchildren and for those in the community around her.
Mom took great pleasure in the many family holidays spent on Galiano Island, walking at Locarno Beach, seeing the North Shore mountains or the far distant mountains of Vancouver Island on a sunny day – she always, even in her older years, found so much peace and happiness looking at the view of her favorite places around Vancouver.
Mom’s greatest life challenge was perhaps in her early 80’s when she developed a slow progressing Alzheimer’s-like illness. Her social skills, sense of humor and great love of Ian and her family were present even when dealing with this debilitating disease. Her children are truly grateful for the care she received at Crofton Manor and most especially for the guidance and compassion of Dr. Phillip Lee at the U.B.C. Alzheimer’s clinic.
Mom was so encouraged to know that Dr. Lee’s research, which Mom contributed to, will be used as both teaching data and helping to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease at the University of British Columbia, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. A private family graveside service has been planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support the Alzheimer Disease Patient Care in memory of Kathleen Mair at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Donate at vghfoundation.ca/kathleen-mair by calling 604-875-4676, or mail a cheque to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation (190-855 West 12 Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9). On the cheque, please indicate that the donation is “In Memory of Kathleen Mair.”