Obituary of Kathleen Letourneau

Obituary Mom (Kathleen Letitia Colhoun) was born in County Donegal, Ireland on March 26, 1926. She emigrated to Canada as a 2year old with her family of 8; father Robert John Colhoun, mother Mary Jane, siblings Matthew(Matt), Jeannie, William(Bill) Mary(Maisie), and Robert(Bert). Three more sisters, Eileen, Violet, and Mabel were born after they settled on a farm in the Viscount area of Saskatchewan. Most of her family has predeceased her, leaving Bert and Mabel to mourn her passing. Mom completed high school in Viscount and went to work in the bank. Not long after she met Eugene Letourneau, and in 1950 they were married. Following Eugene's work on the railway meant the young couple would have to move half a dozen times during their first few years of marriage, but they eventually settled in Saskatoon. During this time, Gerald, Darlene, David and Neal were born. Mom learned early how to pack up a house while managing the household of toddlers, a skill that would come in handy later! During their time in Saskatoon both Dad first, and then Mom, came to a saving knowledge of Christ that was to change their lives and their values forever. They enjoyed the fellowship of believers there and quickly became involved in the life and service of their church. Mom taught the 2-4 year-old Sunday School class (rascals) for many years and hosted many home bible studies. In June, 1962, came the move to dwarf all moves to that point: the family gathered everything up, left family, stable employment and friends and moved to BC to homestead in Buick Creek. Mom's sister Eileen and Lloyd Timmerman and family made the move at the same time so these two families set out for their adjoining properties together. Mom never did like camping very much and it didn't help that she had to keep house in a wall tent with her young family that summer. She did it! Who would have thought you could make a completely decorated frying pan chocolate birthday cake for Darlene's 9th birthday. While Mom cared for the family, Dad and Uncle Lloyd pushed a road the 3 miles to their adjoining properties, built rudimentary houses and their newest venture was underway. That fall Mom became our correspondence school teacher. Because Dad still had to support the family with work off the farm, he and Mom moved into town for winters and moved back to the farm in springtime. These double moves (and sometimes triple) were challenging times for Mom. New schools for the kids, different rented places, lots of change in addition to a growing family. The last 3 boys were born. Henry (b.1963 d.1964), and Alan and Richard. After about 5 years of the back and forth farm life, they bought a house in Fort St. John for more stability for Mom, as Dad most often worked the winters away on the rigs or trucking, leaving her home with the children. Amidst all this change which would have been a huge challenge to Mom and Dad, their faith remained constant, their trust in God, and their service in the church and community continued. Perhaps Mom's greatest gift was that of hospitality and reaching out to needy folk. Her door was always open and when it wasn't, Dad would invite guests and strangers in anyway. Even back in the Saskatoon days, nieces and nephews would stay at our place while they worked in the city or attended college. Mom always managed to put on big meals for the holiday celebrations. As young married adults we thought nothing of bringing our friends with their families home to Mom and Dad's for meal times. As the family grew the house became the gathering place for youth, family, friends and hockey night in Canada! Neal, Alan and Rick regularly brought their school friends to Mom's to eat their lunches, relax, kick back and, of course, enjoy Mom's ready supply of baking! Those of us who lived close enough appreciated all that Mom was able to do for us when our kids were young and needed daycare or even a place to recover when they were ill and couldn't go to school. For those of us who lived away and couldn't send our kids to Grandma, we brought Grandma to us for stretches of time - a good opportunity for the children to get to know her plus the added benefit of a freezer full of apple pies and butter tarts when she left for home -especially Neal! When Dad passed away quite suddenly in 1991 Mom experienced big changes in her life. She took on the role of a business woman and continued to operate the shop for another 2 years until the business sold. Mom did some travel as well - she went to Ireland with Roy and Mary Hastings to re-visit her birthplace and meet her kin. She took an Alaska Cruise which she enjoyed, and she took up painting for a while. She still maintained the stable home and refuge for the grandkids thru this period. We've painted a pretty good picture of life for Mom but we must admit she wasn't perfect! She had a bit of an Irish temper that could flare up and then we'd hear Dad say, "Now Kathy... ". She wasn't above putting Gerald in a sac and hanging him from the rafters when she was beyond annoyed (I didn't think she'd actually do it but I was wrong!). She also experienced some periods of anxiety and psychosis in later life for a couple of years which was a difficult period for her and the family. She came through that and recovered her alertness and ability to respond and talk when we came to visit. We loved Mom for the many good times with her, her ready ear to listen, her willing helping hands and her loving care. Hugs were required and appreciated. Although Mom was eventually fully bed ridden, she had a ready smile for anyone entering her room if she was awake. She would always give a kiss when we'd lean down with our cheeks in place in spite of appearing to be sleeping. She wasn't a complainer and the Peace Villa staff loved her. They gave her good, tender care even though she couldn't really do anything for herself in the end. She passed peacefully into God's presence on May 31st. She was so ready to go. 91 years is a long time. We'll miss her but know she's so much better in glory! We love you Mom - see you in Heaven! If so desired expressions of sympathy can be made in memory of Kathleen to any of the Alliance Church Missions. Celebration of Life JUN 9. 02:00 PM Christian & Missionary Alliance Church 9904 - 98 Street BC, CA, V1J 3T8 Graveside Service JUN 9. 10:00 AM Woodlawn Cemetery Fort St. John, BC, CA Services