Katharine (Kathie) Margaret Tramley
1924-2022
RICHIBUCTO, NB – Katharine (Kathie) Margaret
Tramley, 97 years, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February
17th, 2022 at the Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital
following a short illness. Born in Plaster Rock, NB, she was the first
born of the late Millard and Mary (Foxe) Tramley, and perhaps this
senior position in the family to her five siblings that followed,
contributed to her lifelong love of always being “in charge”
and also her choice of a teaching career. In 1930 when she was 6 years
old her family moved to Richibucto, and with this new adventure began
her love affair with Kent County where her heart remained no matter
where she lived throughout her life. When she was 20, she developed
severe Narcolepsy (an extreme tendency to fall asleep), which
significantly impacts one’s life. But Kathie made a decision
to just deal with it, and she did for her entire life: she declined
all medication, and simply never spoke about it again and continually
devised an endless number of skills to manage this affliction and live
a full life. This took much courage and a great deal of “mind
over matter” commitment.
Kathie studied at a young age for her teacher’s
licence at Teacher’s College in Fredericton, and began
teaching at a one room schoolhouse in Wapski, NB in about 1944, then
afterwards taught in other NB communities of Cherry Field, Lincoln,
Saint John, then moved on to Chandler, Quebec for 3 years, and finally
for 25 years she taught in the Catholic School Commission of Montreal
until her retirement. She was totally dedicated to her teaching
profession and especially to the little children in her grade one
classes, for whom each year she always wrote and created many
elaborate and detailed concert performances to the delight of the
children and their families. Kathie was a lifelong learner and spent
years taking summer and night courses, and eventually earned her
Bachelor of Arts in Religion from the Thomas Moore Institute in
Montreal.
But it was Kathie’s Roman Catholic faith that was
at the core of every aspect of her life; she attended Mass every day,
and often twice a day if she could fit it in when she was teaching in
Montreal. Retirement in 1986 brought her home permanently to
Richibucto. She attended Mass at Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague
Catholic Church, and became a member of the Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church and Catholic Women’s League of Rexton, and
also became a member and dearly loved St Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic
Church in Indian Island, and attended Mass regularly at the churches
(special thank you to Father Bernard Gauthier, Father Bill Bernard and
Vincent Barlow for their kindness to Kathie).
The year after she retired, she bought her home in Richibucto
where she daily loved watching the ever-changing beauty of the
Richibucto River. She delighted in gardening, cooking (had 300 plus
cookbooks and was always planning and searching for the most
interesting/best ever recipe), and most of all she enjoyed extending
her kindness and generosity to regularly welcome and entertain
friends, and to provide hospitality to her family at many
reunions.
Until the end of her long life she remained fiercely
independent-minded, and never for a moment thought there was a project
she couldn’t plan and tackle. To Kathie, the eternal
teacher, every day was an adventure with limitless possibilities, and
many teachable moments for everyone in her orbit.
Kathie leaves to mourn her brother, Bob (Elaine) of Winnipeg;
her sister, Diane (Bruce Tinkham) of Halifax; as well as her many
nieces and nephews in New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, Quebec and
Manitoba.
Kathie will also be sadly missed by her sister-in-law,
Barbara of Montreal.
Besides her parents, Kathie was predeceased by her three
brothers, Ted (former wife, late Betty), Mim (late Jean) and
Allan.
A very special thank you to her niece Jessie and husband
Wayne Morris, who kindly supported Kathie in a multitude of
extraordinary ways for many years; her nephew Danny Tramley; trusted
part-time caregiver Helene Maillet; and friends Joan and Laurie
Robichaud, who generously gave regular assistance that helped Kathie
to be independent, and remain in the home she loved.
Respecting the issues of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be
no visitation or gathering. A public funeral service will be
celebrated on Monday, February 21st, 2022 at
10:30am, Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Rexton.
Internment in the parish cemetery will occur at a later
date.
Following provincial COVID-19 regulations, visitors will be
required to show proof of double COVID-19 vaccination and government
issued ID to enter the church, masks are mandatory and we ask that
social distancing be respected.
Arrangements are in the professional care of
Thompson’s Funeral Home, Richibucto
(506-523-4252).
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Katharine Kathie Margaret Tramley 19242022..
Death notice for the town of: Richibucto, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick