December 12th, 1940 - October 1st, 2024
Passed away peacefully at the Village of Humber Heights Retirement Home in Toronto, on Monday, September 30th, 2024 in her 83rd year. Loving wife of Angus for 61 years. Beloved mother of Peter (Jennifer) and Margaret (Todd). Proud grandmother of Maren, Callum and Lachlan. Sister of Richard (Leone) and Garth (Carol) Tastad. Sister-in-law to Dr. James and Ian (Brenda) McGillivray and predeceased by sisters-in-law Jean, Ann, Cathy and Irene. Dear daughter of the late Peder Arthur Tastad and Ruth Vahlborg Bjelke.
Kathleen was born a prairie blizzard in Davidson, SK on December 12, 1940, in the uncertain aftermath of the Fall of France and Battle of Britain. She was brought home to the farm in Strongfield, SK by horse-drawn sleigh. Her pride in her Scandinavian Lutheran heritage and humble roots on the Saskatchewan prairie always shone particularly in her love of holidays and festivals; her exquisite and tireless baking; and her easy laughter and gentle humour.
Drawn to music from a young age she studied piano at the Regina Conservatory and with the famed teacher Lyell Gustin in Saskatoon. Her first job was as organist of Knox Presbyterian Church in Weyburn, SK where she met and fell in love with a red-haired choir member and soon-to-be seminarian, Angus. They married in 1963. She embarked on a decades-long career in primary and music education at schools in downtown Toronto; Dawson Creek, BC; Prince Albert, SK; and Newmarket, ON. Music was the beating heart of her life’s work as a teacher, organist, choir director, and enthusiastic audience member. After retirement to Guelph, ON, she continued to toil tirelessly for the Women’s Missionary Society, the Towards a World Without AIDS campaign, and knitting and shipping literally thousands of infant pneumonia vests for children in India.
Friends may call at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 484 Water Street, Newmarket, Ontario on Saturday, October 5th at 10:00 a.m. Funeral service in the sanctuary to follow at 11:00 a.m. followed by refreshment in the church hall. Celebration of Life and Internment on Monday, October 7th at 2pm at Skudesnes Lutheran Church in Loreburn, Saskatchewan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Presbyterian World Service and Development
On-line condolence at www.roadhouseandrose.com