It is with great sadness that the family of Katherine Voth announces her passing quietly and peacefully on May 17, 2015 at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
Katherine was pre-deceased by her husband, Pete, in 1992, her parents, her sisters Susan and Rosalind and her brother John. Katherine lived her 93 years surrounded by an amazing family and group of friends.
Born in Nikoliapol, Ukraine, Katherine came to Canada at the age of 4. Her family settled in Saskatchewan where she lived until entering Normal School. She is survived by one sister, Annie, two daughters, Diane (Glen) Cleveland and Lee (Gary) Blandino, grandchildren Darin (Nola) and Janice Muir, Brent (Diane) and Byron (Christine) Blandino, great grandchildren Hannah and Olivia Muir, Xander and Eden Blandino and many nieces and nephews.
Katherine retired from her teaching career in 1983 at the age of 61. She was a professional in a time when many women did not work outside the home. Katherine was known to have taught many students to read, write and do arithmetic in the Black Creek schools. Teaching was her calling and her passion. She taught her students to be persistent in learning and to “never give up”. Her personal love of learning, her patience, and a desire to share what she learned with others made her an exceptional teacher. She would identify with the words of Mother Teresa: I’ve always said that I feel like a pencil in God’s hand, that it is He who has done everything. It has all been His work.
In her retirement years she enjoyed traveling to many different countries first with her husband, Pete and when he passed away her traveling companion became her sister Annie. Until recently Hawaii continued to be a favorite annual travel location. She loved revisiting photos, cards and letters that she had gathered over the years. She cherished the memories of her full and busy life. The last entry in her daily journal was written on the morning of the day she died. She was very special to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. It gave her great pleasure to chat with them, play SkipBo, do puzzles and have tea parties with them.
Katherine will be remembered for her deeply grounded faith in Jesus Christ, her acceptance of all people, giving of her talents and time to others doing community and church work, and her extraordinary love and care for her family. She is dearly missed by her family and friends and has left us with a legacy of wonderful memories and love.
Katherine’s Celebration of Life was held in Abbotsford, BC on May 21, 2015 and the interment occurred in the Chilliwack Cemetaries.
Memorial donations can be made to Bible Study Fellowship BSFInternational.org. Tributes and condolences can be left at www.hendersonssabbotsfordfunerals.com.