Katherine Irene Muckleston (nee Elaschuk)
June 8,1950 – October 17, 2021
It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our mom, Kathy, in her sleep during the early morning hours of October 17, 2021, after a year long battle against ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
Kathy was born in Calder, Saskatchewan to her parents George and Mary and was the sixth of eight born. Sadly, her dad George passed away when she was four years old. Her mom remarried and the family moved to a farm in Inglis, MB. Life on the farm wasn’t easy and she decided at the age of 15 to follow her eldest sister, Georgina to Yorkton, SK. The two spent a couple years there before moving to Moose Jaw to meet up with their sister, Gladys. She moved to Calgary in 1967. Kathy had four children, Donna, Rick, Bob, and Sherry.
Kathy worked in the service industry her whole life. She worked at the Western Café, Bobby Darins, Imperial Hotel, a dry cleaner, Airliner Hotel and lastly at M&M’s Meat Shop on 14th Street as store manager.
It was in 1978 while working at the Airliner Hotel she met her one and only, her soul mate Jim. In 1980, Kathy and Jim were married. Her beloved husband was diagnosed with scleroderma in 1984, and she took care of him until he passed away in 1998.
Kathy loved gardening but didn’t like battling the squirrels that frequently took her potatoes and carrots; she enjoyed sewing and feeding people. We frequently had giggles listening to her plot how she was going to get rid of the pests she didn’t like – did you know that a 2×4 and a blowtorch are good ways to kill a moth? Mom did. She took great joy in baking, canning, making perogies and cabbage rolls. There was never there a time that someone went hungry when visiting her. Kathy loved helping people. She loved going to her daughters’ farm in Summerland and visiting the numerous dogs, cats and chickens that resided there.
In October of 2020, Kathy was diagnosed with ALS. It was a devastating blow to such a vivacious soul. She fought hard to stay with us, but in the end she just wasn’t strong enough.
Kathy was predeceased by her parents George and Mary, siblings, Dolina Linda, Pearl Joyce, Georgina, Nicky, Sandy, husband Jim and son Bob.
She is survived by daughters Donna (Joe) and Sherry, son Rick, grandson Nikolas, sister Gladys (Vernon) and Audrey (Brian), numerous nieces, and nephews and many other extended family members.
Due to covid restrictions a celebration of life will be held in the spring.
Donations can be made to the ALS society of Alberta.
Our hearts have been shattered; the memories grand. We love you to the moon and back, forever, and ever and always.