Kathleen L Coleman

Kathleen (Kathie) Louise Coleman (Kelpin) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 25, 1933, to Doris and Louis Kelpin. Kathleen had an older brother Edward, and younger siblings Junine, Lenore, Mildred, Charlie, and Mona. At an early age the family left Winnipeg and settled in Victoria.

Kathie helped her mother and father care for her younger siblings until she started her years of work as a young lady at the Odeon movie theatre, Rithet Agencies Ltd. on Fort Street and at Victoria Plywood.

As a young lady, Kathie enjoyed roller skating and this is where she met, Russell Coleman, who would become her husband, on July 1, 1955. Kathie and Russ were married at St. Andrew’s Catholic Cathedral in Victoria, B.C. Their first child, Kim (Coreen), was born in May 1956, followed by their son, Murray, in November 1958, then Cheryl in March 1960 and Michelle in March 1968.

From Victoria to Toronto in 1966, then to Vancouver in 1969 and back to Victoria again in 1976, Kathie and Russ enjoyed a beautiful marriage of 67 years.

Kathie’s family meant everything to her, and she enjoyed being a stay-at-home Mom, busying herself with baking, sewing (all of Michelle’s figure skating costumes), knitting, canning, gardening, and volunteering. Once her four children grew up, for a few years, Kathie enjoyed working part-time for Purdy’s Chocolates and Royal Trust.

As a young mother, Kathie enjoyed being Tawny Owl in her daughter Coreen’s Brownie pack and years later, Brown Owl in her daughter Michelle’s Brownie pack. Music and singing brought joy to Kathie in her mid to later years. Kathie was a member of Sweet Adelines, both in Victoria and Toronto and later in life with The Friends of Music and enjoyed volunteering weekly, for several years, in the soup kitchen at St. Andrew’s Catholic Cathedral in Victoria.

Through their years of marriage, Kathie and Russ could often be found helping family members and longtime friends with home projects such as building and renovating. Mom could swing a hammer as easily as she could knit a sweater, and she never tired of lending a hand to those she loved.

Kathie enjoyed watching all her grandchildren grow up and could often be found watching them participate in their favourite sports and activities.

Kathie leaves to mourn her loving husband Russ, children Coreen (Gordon), Murray (Kendra), Cheryl (Terry) and Michelle (Troy) and grandchildren Christopher (Devon), Danny (Jayne), Ryan (Jenna), Cole (Jason), Kelsey (Josh), Morgan (Mark), Denby and Quentin, and great-grandchildren Holden, Ava, Worth and Easton.