Obituary
It is with deepest grief and the heaviest, broken hearts that the family of Kathleen Gee announces her passing, which occured on March 22, 2020. She was the queen of their hearts, their home, and their family but she is now a precious jewel in the crown of her Lord and King. Kathy was born in Saint John on February 2nd, 1941 and was the daughter of the late Carroll May and Kathleen (LeGoffe) May. She was the faithful and loving wife of Stanley “Pete” Gee who was the love of her life for 59 years and she was the beautiful, treasured, wonderful, sweet mother and best friend of Penny Gee, Robin Martinez, and the late Kelly Gee.
Kathy lived her life in obedience to the Lord. Her Bible could always be found sitting on the kitchen table, the cover worn from her years of reading and studying the scriptures. She filled her heart, her mind, and her soul with the Word of God and it can truly be said that she prayed without ceasing. Those constant prayers made her house a home – a safe haven of love and happiness for her family – and brought each of her three daughters to Salvation and a lasting, meaningful, true relationship with the Lord. Through her lifetime, she had been mocked by many for her strong beliefs but she did not ever waver or become wearied of talking about her Saviour. She loved to speak of Him and to share her Joy with others. She was one of the ones who always “watched and waited” – preparing diligently for the day when she would finally meet Him face to face in all of His Glory.
Kathy courageously and miraculously rebounded after suffering a devastating, catastrophic stroke in December 2019 and breathing difficulties which resulted in a tracheostomy in January 2020 – all while emerging from Locked-In Syndrome. Her family had been told that she would likely never open her eyes again but she exceeded any and all expectations when she opened her beautiful blue eyes exactly two weeks after her stroke and continued making major improvements each day that followed. Sadly, just before being discharged from the hospital and being able to go home, she unexpectedly suffered a bleeding ulcer which resulted in her taking her final breath. She was a strong-spirited lady with lots of zest for life and joy in her soul right up until her passing. She was a lifelong champion for sanctity of life, always saying that “sanctity of life is quality of life” and she proved that every stage of life is very precious – even when confined to a hospital bed or wheelchair.
During her three month hospital stay and through all of the ups and downs, Kathy would enjoy listening to her favorite edifying Christian songs and hymns with a smile of contentment and she never ceased to worship her faithful Lord. This is what a strong love she had for Him! In the midst of it all she still found reasons to praise her Jesus. What an example of faith! Her life was all about her Lord. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 KJV).
Kathy graduated from St. Vincent’s Girl’s High School and worked at Irving Oil, Manchester Robertson Allison Ltd., Barbours, Fundy Line Motel, Pascal Emerson Ltd, and Randy’s Restaurant before becoming a dedicated stay-at-home mother and homeschooler. She had been a devoted member of Crossroads Cathedral in Saint John before leaving the church and holding Sunday night and Wednesday night Bible studies in her home in the circle of her loved ones. She loved reading the Bible, reading world events books, watching her Sunday morning Christian shows, listening to Christian songs (especially her absolute favorite song, “Let It Be Known”, by the Booth Brothers), watching Biblical Epic movies, taking drives into the country, going on day-trips, doing word search puzzles, talking with her daughters, basking in the sunshine, smelling the flowers in her garden, going to coffee shops, having yard sales and going to flea markets, visiting museums and zoos and aquariums, spending time with family, laughing and joking, and appreciating all of God’s Creation. She was a very creative lady; dabbling in poetry, writing, painting, furniture restoring, doll making, crocheting, wreath-making, and she was outstanding in the kitchen with her delicious homecooking and baking. Everyone loved Kathy’s chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake with boiled icing, strawberry squares, almond squares, whoopie pies, homemade rolls, and her baked beans – just to name a few. She created the most amazing Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions for her family and gave the best birthday parties imaginable. She loved Springtime – finding much joy in the return of the robins and in searching for the first roadside coltsfoot flowers of the year – and she loved the Easter holiday. Her favorite colors were pretty pink and cheerful yellow – a reflection of her happy heart.
Kathy not only had a happy heart but also a soft and empathetic heart. She touched many people’s lives with her warmth, kindness and her wise spiritual advice. She was always willing to sacrifice and to help the downcast and less fortunate – even though she herself struggled each month to makes ends meet. In her younger years, she lovingly welcomed foster children into her home and provided them with a safe, stable environment filled with the love of the Lord and she was always good to the children in her neighbourhood. She also embraced her son-in-law, welcoming him into the family with open arms, and she loved him as if he were her very own son by birth. She was truly a blessing to her family – cementing a deep, lasting, loving bond with her daughters and making them her best and most trusted friends in the world. She was a perfect example of motherhood and she was a true, virtuous woman. She took her wedding vows very seriously and was forever devoted to her Pete – never once looking at another man because she only had eyes for him. “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” (Proverbs 31:28 KJV)
Kathy will always be remembered for her loving hugs, gentle kisses, her sweet smile, her silly sense of humour, her mischievous twinkle, her playfulness, her understanding heart, her listening ear, her caring ways, her loyalty, her thoughtfulness, her tenderness, and…above all… her love for God.
Because she cared about souls, there is something that Kathy would want included in this obituary. She would want all to read and heed these important words: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found” (Isaiah 55:6 KJV) and “Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12 KJV). On March 22nd, God called Kathy’s name. She was prepared and ready. She fought a good fight, finished her course and kept the faith.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV)
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25:21 KJV)
Kathy is survived by her husband, Stanley Gee, daughters Penny Gee and Robin Martinez both of Saint John (who were also her caregivers for the past several years) and her son-in-law Joseph Martinez of Saint John. She is also survived by one sister, Jane Hoben (Merle) of Saint John and one brother, David May, of Saint John. She was pre-deceased by her beloved daughter Kelly Gee, her parents Carroll May and Kathleen (LeGoffe) May, four brothers; Danny, Carl, Paul and Richard May, seven sisters; Margaret May, Susan May, Mary Kinney, Patricia Collrin, Ann Hunter, Barbara Isaac, and Nancy Kirk.
Arrangements are under the direction of Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424). Due to the Covid-19 crisis and the need for social distancing, visiting will be limited to a private family visitation on Thursday, March 26th and a private chapel service at Ocean View Memorial Gardens. Donations in Kathy’s memory can be made to Canadian Physicians For Life: www.physiciansforlife.ca/donate/giving-faq/
To send a message of condolence, please visit www.fundyfuneralhome.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Kathleen Diane Gee February 2 1941 March 22 2020 (age 79)..
Death notice for the town of: Saint-John, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick