Obituary of Kathleen Routledge

Kathleen (Kae) Elizabeth Routledge of Lougheed, Alberta, passed away one month after her 99th birthday, on Saturday, November 10th, 2012 at the Killam Health Care Centre. Kae was predeceased by her husband Bill, and her two siblings Miriam and Ronald. Kae is survived by her two sons, John (Peggy) of Lougheed and Ron (June) of Kamloops, six grandchildren, Dale, Chris, Randy (Andrea), Tessa, Brad (Sabrina) and Janine (Marcus), three great-grandchildren, Miley, Cole and Sophie, a niece (Bev) and a nephew (Wayne) and their families, along with many other relatives and friends. The youngest of three children, Kae was born in Duncan on Vancouver Island to William and Elizabeth Lowe on October 1, 1913. After graduating from North Saanich School, she continued to study piano and in 1934, she received her Licentiate from the Royal Schools of Music in London as a music teacher. She taught music in the Brentwood and Sidney areas and was organist at St. Paul's United Church in Sidney and Shady Creek United Church in Saanich for many years. On Christmas Eve, 1943, she married William (Bill) Routledge, a farmer's son from Lougheed, Alberta. Bill was a Corporal with the RCAF stationed at a radar installation at Patricia Bay. Thus both were rewarded from Bill spending his off-duty hours helping Kae's dad with farm chores! Their first son, John, was born on October 1st 1944, and with the war winding down, the new family spent their winters on Vancouver Island and summers at the farm. In 1948, Lougheed became their permanent home. Their second son, Ronald, was born two years later on January 28th. Along with raising two boys, caring for a large vegetable garden and a flower garden that was highly reputed, Kae continued to offer her musical talent to her new community. Piano and voice students would visit her home, and for 28 years (1954 - 1982) she was organist and led junior and senior choirs at St. Andrew's church in Lougheed. Kae was very involved in the United Church Women and was awarded a life membership in 1987. The 1980's saw Kae and Bill travelling to England and Australia and also spending winters on Vancouver Island and summers on the farm - just like they did when they were first married. After Bill passed away in 2002, Kae resumed her permanent residency on the farm. She continued her independent life (and driving her car - 84 years without an accident or a ticket!!) until 2009 when she moved into the Killam Health Care Centre. Kae was a prolific letter-writer and carried on correspondence with relatives and friends all over the world. She was also a compassionate and caring person whose happy disposition and smile will be greatly missed - especially by her family. There was a beauty inside her that time never could erase. There will be a Celebration of Life for her at Lougheed in late spring (or early summer) of next year. The family would like to extend our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Hanton, the nurses, and staff at the Killam Health Care Centre who provided such special care to Mom. We would also like to thank the many folk who visited her or included her in their prayers. Should friends desire, donations may be made in Kae's name to St. Andrew's United Church (Lougheed) or to a charity of your choice.