Kathleen Ross Hietanen, 92, passed away peacefully in Gold River, BC on April 8, 2015.
She was determined to attend her granddaughter's West Coast wedding reception on Easter weekend and she made it! Kathleen – also known as ‘Bobbie’ and ‘Kay’ – was born on July 13, 1922 to William and Jessie Grant of Fload Farm, Dornoch, Scotland. She was raised as a true Highland Lady, and came to Canada in 1946 as a war bride after marrying a handsome Canadian soldier named Edwin who stole her heart.
They settled in the Finnish community of Intola (Dawson Road) where Kathleen shared her passion and love for all things Scottish at community activities, especially music and dance. She used her many talents for sewing, baking, decorating, and gardening to make her home a welcoming place for family and friends.
After retiring at age 65, as a housekeeping supervisor for the City of Thunder Bay, she took up the bagpipes and joined the MacGillivary Pipe Band.
Kathleen will be remembered as a warm, loving spirit who always had time to share a coffee and a hug. Her love and zest for life were infectious, often times leading to singing and dancing to her own tune in the kitchen. Of her many life lessons, she passed on the importance of loving one another and being happy in life, forgetting the small stuff because the “dust will always be there tomorrow”.
Kathleen was predeceased by her husband Eddy, brothers Willy and Geordie and sister Jeanette. At age 92, she continued to live independently at PR Cook Apartments in Thunder Bay and enjoyed the camaraderie of her friends there, as well as her precious church family at Lakeview Presbyterian Church.
Kathleen will be lovingly remembered by her sister Anne Brayshaw (Victoria), daughter Arlene Whatley (Dan) - Thunder Bay, son Robert Hietanen (Colleen) - Carlyle, SK, and daughter Annie James (Kevin McDowell) - Gold River, BC as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.
A service for Kathleen will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday April 18th, 2015 in Lakeview Presbyterian Church, 278 Camelot St. Visitation for family and friends will be held in the church one hour prior to service time. If anyone so desires, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dew Drop Inn.
