Obituary of Kathleen Elizabeth Cox

Cox, Kathleen Elizabeth (nÃ?©e Preston) - 86, of Calgary, Alberta and temporarily Bear River, Nova Scotia - passed away at Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville on Sunday, November 13, 2011. Born in Horwich, Lancashire, England, she was a daughter of the late Elizabeth and William Preston. Kathleen grew up in Stockport, Cheshire and excelled at school. Her teenage years were contoured by pressures to enter the workforce, day-to-day challenges of wartime and a serious illness. Her life changed when she met Maurice. They courted, married, and moved to the south of England (Elmer Sands, Sussex then Havant, Hampshire). Shortly after building a new home and welcoming their third child, Maurice succumbed to cancer and Kathleen was widowed at the age of 38. Her grieving was profound and partial relief only came with her decision to immigrate with her younger son to Calgary in 1974, starting afresh following and followed by other family members. Kathleen set up home, worked at the Hudson?¢s Bay Company, became known as - Kathy쳌 and formed new friendships which were to last for decades. More than anything, her life revolved around her family and around staying in touch with them, participating in family events (such as suppers and parties at Sunnyhill Co-op and the famed Sabraw family dinners) and having visits (to children in places such as Mara, British Columbia and Bear River) and adventures (such as riding on an elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand). Kathleen will be greatly missed by her children and their partners - Paul (Ginny), Patricia (Peter) and Philip (Yvonne) - her grandchildren Liam, Helen, Jeremy and Meghan - her great-granddaughter Bizou, and her sister Vicki (Stephen), nephews Christopher (Patricia) and Nicholas, stepson David (Griselda), Helen?¢s mother Jill, Bizou?¢s mother Jenny, and Liam?¢s father Nick. The family are deeply grateful for the wonderful care which Kathleen received from medical professionals in SW Nova Scotia and especially, over the past two weeks, at the Valley Regional Hospital. Arrangements are under the care initially of Serenity Lindsay Funeral Home & Crematorium; a Celebration of Life is planned to follow in Calgary and a private family interment will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fidelis House Society, P.O. Box 125, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 3W4. Condolences and remembrances of Kathleen may be sent directly to the family c/o Pat Woods, P.O. Box 105, Bear River, Nova Scotia B0S 1B0 or online at www.serenitylindsayfuneralhome.ca