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Our beloved Mother (only daughter of Veronica and Emmett) was born Catherine Margaret Kiely on March 22, 1925. Mom and her only brother Kenneth (Rose) lost their beloved, gentle Mother far too early, but with the blessings of her guardian angel, Mom still managed to experience the deep love and care of a parent; over numerous conversations with her children, Mom recounted many, many stories of a taciturn, loving father who knew how to “step high”. In fact, it was our Grandfather Emmett who “suggested” to his young, headstrong daughter that if she wasn’t going to go to school then she had better find herself a job. Working as a master carpenter on Lake Temagami at that time, he knew of some job openings at local tourist camps on Lake Temagami. At 17 years old, then, our dear Mother made her way to a seasonal job at Temagami Lodge where she met the love of her life- Philip (affectionately called “Boyus” by close family and friends) Potts. And the rest, so they say, is our family history.
After a delay of approximately one year due to the untimely passing of our paternal grandmother, Mom married our Dad on October 5th, 1943. Beginning in 1944, and over a span of twenty some years, Mom (aka Kay and/or Shaganosh Sheekwe by the Islanders) gave birth to six healthy, and she would say, interesting children: Gary (Doreen), Linda (George), Brian (Ann), Wayne (Ronda), Henry, and Rick. The Good Lord has called a number of our family members back to Him, but, even so, the family of Kay and Boyus has grown very large indeed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great grandchildren.
Though she chose to return to North Bay to live and work in her later adult years as a Registered Nurse’s Assistant at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mom’s ties to Lake Temagami, especially to Bear Island, remained strong, even in retirement. Grandma Kay’s deck dinners were always noisy, fun, full-of-music, good company and delicious food. Mom was an avid walker throughout her life. It was nothing for Mom and family to walk to the Mine Road during the winter months before skidoos and the “Ice Road” were part of our everyday life. And when gas-engine vehicles became ever more important in our lives, Mom still found opportunities to walk.
Our beloved Mother loved to travel, whether it was to far away Ireland, oh-so- warm Florida, beautiful British Columbia, or fascinating Toronto.
Such a long, rich life! A life that deserves to be celebrated, and so plans are being made for a celebration of life Mass for Mom at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay on July 27th 2024 at 11A.M. with a light lunch downstairs at the Pro-Cathedral.
Finally, the family would like to thank the staff at the Anishinaabe Long Term Care Home at the Timiskaming First Nation for their care of Mom during the past number of years.
Tuesday February 6th 2024
Death notice for the town of: Haileybury, Province: Ontario
death notice Catherine Margaret Potts Kiely Tuesday February 6th 2024
obituaries notice Catherine Margaret Potts Kiely Tuesday February 6th 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Catherine Margaret Potts Kiely Tuesday February 6th 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
