Jean Kathleen (Kaye) Logan Banks

Peacefully, on August 1, 2015, aged 101.

Our beloved Mother had a remarkable long life, full of joy in family and friends. Kaye loved music, books, good food, games, nature and all things Nova Scotian. Over a cup of tea, or a G & T, she was great fun to be with. We will miss her warmth, her bright smile and open heart, and the example of her optimism and tenacity. She is survived by her children Judith Tsang (Randolph) of Corner Brook, Christopher (Catherine) of Mississauga, Michael (Sheila) of Halifax, and Jeffrey (the late Margaret) of Dartmouth; by her grandchildren Mark, Stephen, Jonathan and Susan Tsang; Suzette Deveau, Jeremy and Joshua Banks; Jennifer, Stephanie and David Banks; Leah and Benjamin Banks. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren. Kaye was predeceased by her husband Herbert R. Banks, by her infant son David, and daughter-in-law Margaret Barrett-Banks. Kaye was born in 1914 to Frank and Cora Logan in Kamloops B.C. and moved to Halifax when she was two. She remembered standing on a dining room chair being dressed by her mother when the windows of the house were blown in by the Halifax Explosion of 1917. She began violin lessons at the age of seven at the Halifax Conservatory of Music, where she studied violin and viola under the renowned Ifan Williams. From then on her life was filled with music. She became a violin teacher herself while still in her teens. She then decided on further study, going to the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, in 1936. She played in the orchestra there, led by Sir Henry Wood, and participated in the Last Night of the Proms. She vividly remembered the abdication of Edward VIII, and standing with other overseas students near Buckingham Palace to watch the coronation of George VI. The great love of her life was Herbert Banks, who introduced himself at one of her many recitals in Halifax. While she was studying in the UK he crossed the ocean to propose, and they married in 1938. They eventually raised four children, and while they were at school she continued teaching the violin. In the early 50s Kaye was a founding member of the Halifax Symphonette under Alfred Strombergs, playing her beloved viola. She played with the Halifax Symphony and the Atlantic Symphony until she and Herb retired in 1973 and moved to his birthplace in Barrington Passage. Herb died in 1986 and Kaye remained there until her early 90s when she decided to move back to Halifax to be with family and friends. In 2011 she donated her beautiful viola to the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, where it continues to be played by one of their young musicians. The family expresses deep gratitude to Mrs. Irene Swindells and her wonderful staff at Melville Heights; to Mirasol and her team; also to the physicians at Dalhousie Family Practice Spryfield. A special thanks to Yvonne for the companionship and support she gave to Mother in the past few years.

The family will host a celebration of the life at Melville Heights Retirement Residence, 24 Ramsgate Lane in Halifax, on Saturday August 22 from 2 to 4 pm. Friends of hers and the family are invited. In Kaye’s memory, donations to the MS Society (Atlantic Division) or the Western Counties Regional Library in Yarmouth would be appreciated.