Obituary - Kathleen (Kay) Hamilton

Kathleen (Kay) Hamilton, formerly of Nokomis, Sask., died peacefully in Chilliwack, B.C., on September 4, 2024, at the age of 105.

Kay was born at home on the farm at Cecil, Sask., on December 7, 1918, the eighth of nine children born to Anne and Michael Hall. In 1937 she met her future husband, James W. (Jim) Hamilton, when they were taking teacher training at Saskatoon Normal School. They both taught school for two years before their marriage in 1940. While Jim continued to teach, Kay took on the role of homemaker, and together they raised their family of four children. Over the years, Kay and Jim made many friends as they lived in Hoosier, Saskatoon, Langham, Kindersley, Eatonia, and, from 1963, Nokomis.

Throughout her life, Kay found great joy and satisfaction in playing the piano and organ. She especially enjoyed playing for choirs and for singalongs with family and friends. Kay was also an avid gardener and took particular pleasure in growing flowers.

In 2010, Kay moved from Nokomis to assisted living at Chalmers Lodge in Vancouver, where she made new friends, kept in touch with old friends, and continued to make music at the piano.

In 2020, Kay moved to Chilliwack to live with her daughter Brenda. There she thrived, continuing her various activities, especially enjoying helping in the flower garden and playing her piano, into the last month of her life. She died after a four-day stay in hospice, with Brenda at her side.

Kay was predeceased by her husband in 1992 and by her five brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her children Kathleen Hamilton, Brenda McCourt, James (Jim) Hamilton, and Gail Hamilton and her husband Chet Olson, grandsons Sean McCourt and David Clark, great-grandson Ravshan Clark, and many nieces and nephews.

Kay's ashes will be interred in the Nokomis Cemetery.