TRIBE, Kathleen “Kay” (Fairbairn)
We sadly announce the sudden passing of our Mom and Granny on December 8, 2011.
Mom, when you left us there “wasn’t a breath of wind.”
Kay was born on September 14, 1917 in Comox to Emily and Maurice (Cap) Fairbairn. She is predeceased by her husband John (1985), her brothers Douglas and Kenneth and sisters Jean, Gwen and Peggy.
She is survived, loved and missed by her sons Douglas and David (Barb), her daughters Kathleen (Jeff) Peace and Barbara and her Grandsons John and Jason Peace as well as Fran Robinson.
Kay was born in Comox and home for her and her family was the Lorne Hotel, run by Emily and Cap for over 35 years. She has provided all of us with many wonderful stories of her and her siblings growing up in the Comox Valley, particularly the summers when she would get her “boyish bob” and spend her days swimming at the wharf. She would also talk of the building of the Comox Golf Club, how she and her pals would make 25 cents for each bucket of rocks they picked off the course during construction.
Following her schooling in Comox, she trained as a Nurse at Vancouver General Hospital and while she did not make a career out of nursing, she made many great friendships among her classmates- friendships that endured throughout her lifetime.
Along the way she met her future husband, John, a Courtenay boy. They were married on August 17, 1940 and enjoyed a wonderful marriage until his passing on December 23, 1985. They moved to Victoria in the early 40’s and in 1953 moved to their house at Royal Oak where they raised their kids and where Mom remained until she moved to Comox in 2005.
Mom and Dad were wonderful parents and provided us with a childhood of love, laughter, patience and support. We
were truly blessed.
She was a stay at home Mom who provided home cooked meals, great baking, handknit sweaters, and lots of love. Everyone was welcome at the house and everyone left feeling just a little bit more special than when they arrived.
She was front and center at all the sporting events, horse events, any events in which her kids were involved. She would be a driver, scorekeeper, nursemaid, coach or just a supporter.
She possessed an amazing sense of humor. She loved to tell jokes however those listening would often not hear the punch line as she was laughing so hard by that time.
She took up golf when the kids got a little bit older and joined Uplands Golf Club in 1959, maintaining her membership until she moved back to Comox. She was a very good golfer, maintaining a handicap of 15. She always walked the golf course, never a power cart and was able to
continue playing until she was 89.
She was also an excellent card player whether it be poker, crib or rummy but bridge was her forte, she was an amazing bridge player.
She truly was a wonderful person and as her family we cannot find the words to adequately express how incredibly lucky we feel to have had her as our Mom, Granny and Mom-in-law. We will miss her.
The family would like to thank the folks at Cummings Home which was her home for the past 8 months. We felt she was in a place where she was truly cared for and that put our minds at ease. So thank you Evelyn, Leona, Jane, Phyllis and Laura.
There will be a celebration of Mom’s life at the Comox Golf Club on December 17th from 1 – 4 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the charity of your choice.