Kathleen Wellington

Kathleen "Onnie" Wellington passed away on July 16, 2010 at the age of 100 years. She came into this world on November 22, 1909. Born in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, the sixth Child of John Thomas and Catherine Jeffers (Mulligan). In 1914 Catherine brought the children to Fort William to join their father. Onnie's lifelong career as household manager and parent, began in 1929 when Catherine died and she stepped in and ably filled the void including becoming a mother to her younger brother. On August 19, 1936 she married "the Duke", Clarence Robert Wellington, with the hope that their marriage would be blessed with at least four children. She had to settle for only two, Arthur who finally arrived in 1940 and at last a daughter, Mary, who came on the scene in 1948. Not that maintaining a household wasn't a full time job in the day's of wash tubs, wringer washers, clothes lines, stacks of ironing and manual floor polishers, she found time to run church teas and the fair booth. She even found time to roll Duke's cigarettes every morning and to somewhat grudgingly pack up the kids and travel the country on his well planned summer vacation and all the time wonder why they should pay for a motel with a perfectly good bed lying empty at home. In 1959, at the age of 50, Onnie decided it was time to get a job. She went to work in the cafeteria of Selkirk High School and in following year assume the position of Cafeteria Manager at the new Westgate High School from which she reluctantly retired in 1972. Life after retirement was not dull, the grandchildren had begun arriving on the scene and she and Duke enjoyed many hours and days sharing in the challenge and joy of raising the next generation. Their winters were spent in warmer places until Duke passed away in December of 1988. Onnie was also predeceased by her parents and by her siblings: Bob, Tom, Bill, Mary Childs, Ned, "Irish" Jimmie and Jim. She is survived by her son Art, his wife Barb, their children, Rita-Ann, Mark and Bob, her daughter Mary Wigg, her husband Danny and their children Toni, Anita, Kate, Dana and John and 12 great grand children. She is also survived by sisters in law Gladys and Shirley Jeffers as well as many nephews and nieces. In accordance with her wishes there will be no funeral service. She wanted a party and so on the occasion of her one hundredth birthday family and friends came together to honour her wishes and to celebrate her life. Many lives have been touched and enriched by Onnie in her 100 years. She has become a part of us all and will remain so forever. If desired donations can be made to Northern Cancer Fund.Online condolencesmay be made through www.nwfainc.com"