October 14, 1928 – June 22, 2021
It is with great sadness, our family announces the passing of our dear loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother Kay Cummins on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at the age of 92 years in the Olds Hospital.
Mom was born at her parents home on 4th Street, Medicine Hat, Alberta. Her dad received word at work and ran all the way home to see his new baby girl. Her beloved Aunt lived with them for many of mom’s younger years and she encouraged mom to explore her creativity. Singing, piano lessons, ballet classes, Girl Guides activities and roaming the hills and valleys around Medicine Hat filled her days. Swimming lessons were a big part of her growing up, as she lived one block away from an outdoor pool. She soon became what she termed as a “water baby” and her mom always knew where “Kathy” was in the summer!
Mom said it was “love at first sight” when she met dad and they were married on June 18, 1949 in Medicine Hat. After a honeymoon in Yellowstone Park, she then had a transition from city “life” to farm “wife”. Something she totally embraced! She learned to cook for large threshing crews, milked seven cows twice a day by hand, separate the cream to take to the creamery each week, feed pigs and chickens, tend to a large garden and drive tractors. Mom was a great cook and there were always pies, cookies, cakes or puddings on her kitchen counter for anyone who dropped by. Desserts were a must and her motto was “life is short-eat dessert first!” Coffee break at 4:00 pm was huge for her and everything stopped for this special time of day to sit and relax!
Mom took interest in people she met and loved to visit. She had a special gift (to her last days) of drawing people out and getting them to talk about their life. It was always amazing to watch how she could, in a short time, get even the unfriendly people to open up and smile or laugh. Mom, that was your mission here, and you succeeded tremendously with that! Mom was very adventurous and travels included Great Britain, Hawaii, Arizona, Alaska, Cape Cod, camping across Canada from BC to Ontario and down the Oregon Coast. Trips on the motorcycle too, gave her much pleasure. She loved to read and mastered the iPad in her 80’s so she didn’t have to worry about late book returns to the library. Growing up in the dirty thirties, she learned to be very resourceful and she became the “Queen of taping or gluing” broken items to make them last longer. Many a family laugh about that! One of mom’s favorite past times was sitting at her sewing machine. She could make anything and many beautiful creations as well as patched clothes passed through her hands. She had a natural love and soft spot for animals and any pet under her care was deeply loved and spoiled. Mom had the biggest, most generous heart and would have given the shirt off her back if you needed it. She maintained her youthful, fun side and enjoyed playing with her grandchildren and then great grandchildren up until the last few weeks of her life.
We will always cherish our memories of you mom, and you will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. We wish you peace, joy and love on your journey forward. Kathleen was predeceased by her husband Glen; parents Tom and Elsie White; Aunt Kate Dutcher; brother Donald White.
She is survived by her son Gary (Elaine) Cummins; daughters Susan (Eric) Andrew and Colleen (Barry) Cline all of Olds; 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Due to COVID, a private family ceremony will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to Canadian Diabetes Association or to Cancer Research. Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. 403-507-8610 Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com.
