Obituary of Katherine Margaret Hall (nee Fowler)

Our cherished Katherine Margaret Fowler Hall has passed in her 84^th year, in Kingston, Ontario.  Kathy leaves behind her beloved husband, Robert Sidney, her loving children, Karen Patricia (David Barber) and Neal Maddison Patrick (Kathleen Goldhar), and her treasured grandchildren, Claire, Simon, Henry, Kelvey, and Nathan.  Her dear sister, Barbara (Aitken) survives her.

Born in Winnipeg, MB, to Margaret Edith Grundy and Noel Maddison Fowler, Kathy’s early years were marked by academic excellence and athletic prowess, especially as a crack badminton player with trophies to prove it. She often told stories of growing up along the Red River and her family’s annual sandbagging efforts to ward off the floods. The Winnipeg Free Press dubbed them “The Floody Fowlers,” a nickname Kathy wore with pride.

At 21, Kathy embarked on what would become a lifelong love affair with travel, starting with a trip to London to visit her dearest Aunt Marjorie and Uncle William Fowler. England became a favourite destination, and trips to London were a tradition she later shared with grandchildren. In a touching tribute, Henry recently laid flowers in Newcastle Cathedral beneath the Maddison Family monument, paying homage to Kathy’s ancestors dating back to the 1200s.

Kathy met the love of her life, Bob, on a blind date. She was so smitten with the young dashing actor that she accidently tried to eat her napkin. They married in 1963, climbed in Bob’s white Volvo bidding adieu to the prairies for Toronto with “sheaves of wheat sticking out of our ears”.

Toronto wasn't exactly Kathy's cup of tea. She often joked about how, after trying to strike up conversations with strangers on the subway (as she would!), they'd get up and change seats. “I wasn’t in Winnipeg anymore,” she’d laugh. Thankfully, a move to Ottawa soon followed, where the young family settled into the celeste green bungalow on Whitehill.  She adored that house, especially the blue spruce in the front yard, which grew to majestic heights swallowing strands of Christmas lights in the 51 years they lived there. Their treasured home was the heart of her family for celebrations and visits with children, grandchildren and granddogs.

Kathy’s career took her from evaluating electronic components at QRL Analysis and Chipworks to a retirement filled with meaningful volunteer work. She taught literacy with People Words and Change and passionately championed the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grannies Campaign, advocating for grandmothers in Africa.

Kathy lived for her family and for adventure. Whether it was taking the train across Ontario with her jaunty red suitcase, exploring the coastlines of Newfoundland and PEI, trips to Arizona, or a cruise the Marquesas, Kathy infused joy into every journey. Her love of travel filled 11 passports, and we never tired of watching slideshows in the living room reliving exciting voyages.

Kathy lived her life with joyful exuberance. If one had the good fortune to cross paths with Kathy, it was instantly evident that she was the kindest, most engaging, optimistic, and generous person in the history of forever. She was a devoted friend, extraordinary chef, avid reader, tennis ace, third best gardener on Whitehill, a patron of the National Arts Centre, feminist icon, ice cream cognoscente, style mavin, devotee of the sculpture Maman, packer of sublime picnics, master of sarcasm, and could rock a backcombed beehive. She was a lover of tulips, peonies, and the stinkiest of cheeses. Kathy had a wicked sense of humour; we so miss her full-bellied, knee slapping, head back uproarious laughs. This list barely scratches the surface of her essence and contagious zest for life. In fairness, there are some things Kathy was not a fan of: winter, being in a sailboat whilst windy, sleeping in a tent, Florida, mansplaining, The Last of Sheila (sorry Bob!) and margarine. A life is well lived indeed when it is challenging to itemize more than seven dislikes!

Cruelly, the last chapter in Kathy’s life was not what any of us would have wished.  We are beholden to Whitehill neighbours and devoted friends for always helping and passionately loving Kathy. Dear friends recently took the train to Kingston for a final City View Tennis Club gals’ reunion; the afternoon was spent looking at photos and holding hands walking the gardens. Kathy received extraordinary care from Providence Care Hospital and Providence Manor nursing home. Miraculously, they were able to keep Kathy and Bob together in their final two years; a comfort to each other to the end. When friends came to visit, staff curled Kathy’s hair and found a lovely dress to wear: in the face of relentlessness dementia, Kathy’s dignity was their foremost priority, and we are eternally grateful to them.

Kathy passed away just after midnight on September 8th, 2024 – sharing that date with Queen Elizabeth no less - this surely made her Aunt Marjorie smile. Earlier that evening with Karen and Neal, and holding hands with Bob, Kathy watched a beautiful slideshow of images chronicling the exceptional life she created and delighted in. 

We invite all those who knew and loved Kathy to celebrate her life on October 26th, 2024, 1pm, at Pinecrest Remembrance Services, followed by an open house at her cherished home. In true Kathy fashion, there will be stories, laughter, and maybe even a Nutty Buddy or two.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers Campaign are welcome, an organization that Kathy held dear to her heart: [https://stephenlewisfoundation.org].