We are deeply saddened that Kem has passed. She put up such a brave fight and we are so glad she got to spend a lovely summer with her family. We always admired Kem's energy and our family gatherings will not be the same without her. We will miss her contagious laugh and genuine smile! We hope she has found peace. Much love to you all during this very difficult time.
Margie & Dan Timmermans,
November 24, 2020
Our deepest sympathy. Sorry for your loss.
Geri & Frank Hecker,
November 19, 2020
My dearest friend for 57 years. You will be truly missed but will be remembered always. My thoughts are with Wayne, Theresa, Monica and family, Love Shir
Shirley Giesbrecht,
November 17, 2020
Kem will be missed by all who knew her. She always had quick genuine smile and lots of enthusiasm. Our thoughts go out to the Family at this time.
Peggy & Doug McLaughlin,
November 17, 2020
Thank you for live streaming Kem's Memorial. I was so privileged to able to join in with you in the celebration of Kem's life. Thank you Teresa, Monica, and your sister, Wayne for sharing those memories of Kem. I will always remember her smiles, laughter, and fun times shared; and the many lunches/coffees as we passed through Lethbridge. We were so privileged to see Kem the end of October and she was such a trooper as she visited for an hour with us. Wayne and family, our thoughts and prayers are with you at the loss of such a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will always be fondly remembered. Joan and Leo Kirouac
Joan Kirouac,
November 17, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne and his family. We can hope that fond memories will sustain them.
Andrew & Jean Johnstone,
November 17, 2020
I will miss you so much. Cuz
Brenda Winny,
November 17, 2020
Wayne, I am so very sorry for your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences to you, Monica, Theresa and family.
Connie Morrison,
November 17, 2020
Wayne, I am so very sorry for your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences to you, Monica, Theresa and family.
Connie Morrison,
November 17, 2020
Kem and went to grade school, St. Marys and Sion Academy. My prayers and thoughts for your family.
Lydia Forbes,
November 17, 2020
Wayne and family,
I was honored to get to know Kem and her beautiful spirit when we did Hospital Eucharist together. In times of tears, remember the laughter. In times of sadness, remember the smiles. In times of loneliness, remember all you shared. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Carol and Brian Treadwell
Carol & Brian Treadwell,
November 15, 2020
We are still numb and in shock that Kem has left this world for the peace of another....Our story with Kem and Wayne starts back in 2013 when we relocated to Lethbridge and didn't know nearly anyone. Kem immediately displayed the traits of kindness, caring, and compassion in an almost angelic way. She treated our family like we were HER family, and helped us settle into a new place. She was always smiling, never mad, pure positivity, and no negativity. She was always a pleasure to be around and tell stories with!
We cherished our dog sitting adventures with her dog Katy, and we could tell this was one well-loved doggie! Will never forget her homemade lasagna "drop-offs" when we needed a lift and a break.
Although we only knew Kem for seven years, we felt like we had a lifetime with her and she will be sorely missed. Rest in heaven, God had a spot reserved for you all along...
Tara & James McCabe & Family,
November 15, 2020
Dear Wayne and girls, I knew Kem through Tuesday Ladies Golf. She was so enthusiastic and welcoming to all who wanted to play a friendly game. She bubbled over and enjoyed every minute of her time golfing and so did everyone else. What a fun loving and caring person. She talked about her husband and daughters all the time. How fortunate you were to have her as a wift and mom.
Lucelle Prindle,
November 15, 2020
My sincere condolences to KEM's friends and family. I had just reestablished contact but due to Covid we were unable to reconnect for a 50th reunion. She was and always will be remembered as a kind, caring person.
Patty (McPhail) Vensel,
November 14, 2020
Wayne, with heartfelt condolences please know that Herm and I are thinking of you and your family during this very difficult time. Kem will be remembered for her warm and friendly personality, along with such a beautiful smile that truly lit up any room.
She will be missed...but, never forgotten.
Carla and Herman Elfring
Carla Elfring,
November 14, 2020
Wayne, with heartfelt condolences please know that Herm and I are thinking of you and your family during this very difficult time. Kem will be remembered for her warm and friendly personality, along with such a beautiful smile that truly lit up any room.
She will be missed...but, never forgotten.
Carla and Herman Elfring
Carla Elfring,
November 14, 2020
Had the pleasure of meeting and working with Kem at Victim Services. Such a wonderful lady. My sincere condolences to Kem's family.
Gloria Holberton,
November 14, 2020
Terry and I first got to know Kem and Wayne during a road trip with two other couple friends driving along the Cowboy trail to visit them in Lethbridge. Wayne made reservations at a Greek restaurant where we all sat outdoors in their patio feeling like we had travelled to Greece and were meeting "old friends". Conversation flowed easily with Kem sharing funny stories throughout the evening; so much laughter! That's when I thought, it would be great to spend more time with this awesome couple. And we did that over several winters in Palm Springs. Lots of fond memories dining and dancing under the starts with them. Kem even taught us how to play Golf -- a card game she and Wayne would often play with their grandchildren. We are saddened by her passing and have the warm memories of her joy and zest for life.
Joanne Blake & Terry Pithers,
November 12, 2020
I have lost a very special friend. Wayne, Monique and Theresa I am sending my sincerest condolences and hugs to each one of you and your children. Your mom was one of a kind, you will miss her very much. Now starts all the firsts that come along with loosing a loved one, but she will always be with you and the lovely memories that you all have shared with her. May God grant you peace, strength, healing and love along with those lovely memories as you travel through this first year without Kem
Doreen Kozmyk,
November 12, 2020
I'm so sorry to hear of Kim's passing. She was a wonderful caring woman to helped many. A great friend. My condolences to her family.
Carel MacLeod,
November 12, 2020
As I sit here and reflect on the past 36 plus years that I have known Kem, I think of her life, and our friendship, in 'stages'. Loving...tenacious...dedicated... Wife and mother in rural Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, and Calgary; always present for her own family and often for the rest of the huge family Wayne brought along with him when they married. We were a noisy, passionate group of five plus Mum & Dad. We were easy to laugh, especially after Dad's famous Planters Punches, with a deep love for each other, quick to poke fun at anyone, and everyone. Enter Kem, with only one brother, always a gentle woman, quiet-spoken and usually calm. We disrupted her world and she loved us, in-spite-of that! I had boys, she had girls, and we would spend hours comparing notes on motherhood and the perils thereof.
Determined...organized...protective.....As the kids got a little older and she went back to work, she was very protective of her girls and husband. She made each new home their own, quickly adding many friends to her network. Our conversations during that time focused on husbands, children, and work...and our friendship grew. We have never lived in the same city, so we always had much to catch up on when we did get together. Sometimes it was on the phone, sometimes at a picnic bench between Calgary and Lethbridge, sometimes shopping, family gatherings, and often visiting each other on long weekends, etc.... I remember our first skiing trip with the kids...all about six to ten. Kem and I were beginners and had taken a few lessons with the kids, and then went further up the hill to ski down. The kids did very well, I was challenged, but had skied down in front of her. She followed at a very fast pace...just like a kamikaze, straight into the arms of a very tall, handsome man who was so shocked he was speechless. She just looked up at him with her big smile and said, 'thanks for catching me', and we moved on to the chalet for coffee. He watched us for a long time!
Music lover...fun loving...easy to laugh....I have fond memories of dancing in their kitchen and living room with the girls to rock'n roll music on the radio...laughing and moving to the music. One weekend when I was living in Edmonton, we met in the middle (Calgary) with a long-time friend of mine, Andrea, who also loved Kem. We three decided we would go to 'Electric Avenue' in Calgary, 'An Infamous Chapter in Calgary's Partying History' according to Avenue Magazine. Three forty plus year old women out on the town; the cab driver questioned our destination, but we held firm. It was not until we arrived out on the street after a fabulous supper, that we realized we were the only people on the street over twenty, possibly the only sober ones and at risk of being mugged! We called a cab, went back to the hotel, and enjoyed a quiet glass of wine in our pj's, laughing about the evening.
My sister married to my brother! That is how I have introduced Kem multiple times in the past ten years. She truly does feel like a sister to me, although she is married to my favourite brother, and only brother by the way. In more recent years, we have had more freedom. The kids have all grown up and had kids of their own, so we started more serious travel, with husbands in tow! Initially in Banff, Calgary, and many camping trips across this province. Then we started to enjoy longer trips Palm Springs, Hawaii, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI; we continued the camping weekends and other short travel extravaganzas. Our longest trip was in 2017, six weeks in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii - a lifetime dream for all of us and so much fun. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to do the trip to Greece that we were most recently planning....or back to Palm Springs...to see Ireland through her eyes...or a river cruise to Portugal. Our list was long; I think we both have believed we would live forever...just two women enjoying life with the men we loved surrounded by children and grandchildren whom we also loved and who loved us.
Over the past nine months, we have both become very aware of our own vulnerability, that life does not last forever, and we never know what tomorrow will bring. We have spent a few days together just about every three weeks during that much of that time and found ways to laugh together, make some new memories, cry together, and revisit some of our 'best times'.
Kem was my sister-in-law, my confidante, my travel partner, sometimes my thinking partner, often my shopping partner, and my best friend. I will miss her laughter, her giggle, her quick wit, her 'bossiness' (even to the end) and will always miss our precious time together with a glass of wine or cup of tea to catch up on our world. I am sure God knows just how special she is ....and just to be sure, I will be reminding him regularly.
With much love to Wayne, Theresa and Monica, my sisters and their families Linda Maul (Wayne's oldest and wisest sister)
Linda Maul,
November 12, 2020
Kem was a leader in our community and helped so many people. She had a big heart and shared it with so many. She will be missed. My condolences to her family and friends
Darcie James,
November 12, 2020
I first met Kem when we were both associated with Girl Guides, and then later through the CWL and our parish. I really admired Kem and all her energy that she so willingly shared helping others.
In sympathy and prayer.
Faye Henderson
Faye Henderson,
November 11, 2020
We are so sorry to hear of Kem's passing. We were happy to have her as part of the Palm Springs golfing and partying group. Loved Kem's smile and enthusiasm! Love and hugs to all of the family,
Rita and Murray Little
Saskatoon
Rita & Murray Little,
November 11, 2020
We are so sorry to lose Kem, both as a family member and a friend. Our visits to Lethbridge won't be the same without her. Hopefully her and Joanie are up there having a laugh over a couple of glasses of wine.
Karyn Gibbons,
November 11, 2020
We are deeply saddened that Kem has passed. She put up such a brave fight and we are so glad she got to spend a lovely summer with her family. We always admired Kem's energy and our family gatherings will not be the same without her. We will miss her contagious laugh and genuine smile! We hope she has found peace. Much love to you all during this very difficult time.
Margie & Dan Timmermans,
November 11, 2020
She was a leader in our community giving her time to help others. She will be missed. My condolences to her family
Darcie James,
November 10, 2020
She was a leader in our community giving her time to help others. She will be missed. My condolences to her family
Darcie James,
November 10, 2020
Wayne, I'm so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you and the family. Virginia Riediger
Virginia Riediger,
November 10, 2020
We send our condolences and prayers to Wayne and the children on the loss of your wife and mother Kem. We got to know Kem in Palm Springs and enjoyed her company at all times. Gone far to soon!
Alannah & Ron Martian,
November 10, 2020
I was so sorry to hear of Kem's passing. I got to know Kem in Palm Springs and spent fun times golfing with her. I saw her last in 2019. She was so positive and looked great. I really thought she might beat this terrible disease. She is gone far too soon. My heart breaks for all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
Sandra Wood,
November 10, 2020
I was so sorry to hear of Kem's passing. I got to know Kem in Palm Springs and spent fun times golfing with her. I saw her last in 2019. She was so positive and looked great. I really thought she might beat this terrible disease. She is gone far too soon. My heart breaks for all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
Sandra Wood,
November 10, 2020
