KATHERINE RUTH ROBACK

(February 14, 1945 - January 31, 2026) Katherine Roback was born and raised in Montreal, the eldest of three children born to Leo and Jeannette Roback (née Wales). She grew up with the strong values of her secular Jewish/Protestant socialist family and community. Degrees in anthropology from McGill University and University of Kansas, coupled with thesis fieldwork in Jamaica, led to her lifelong interest in non-institutionalized religions. In 1968, Katherine moved to British Columbia to pursue work in urban anthropology. She soon formed personal connections with the Lil'wat people in Mount Currie, 160 km north of Vancouver. She lived in the vicinity for five years with her then-partner, Phil Sam, and she remained connected to the Sam family for life, from whom she learned of the spirituality of giving and receiving. The greatest gift in Katherine's life was her daughter, Lorien Sam Roback Maté. Katherine raised her daughter in Vancouver in a shared living arrangement with Aleksa Dorsey and her child, Sean. Their blended family provided support, stability, and a safe and caring home life for all. Katherine's life continued to grow after Lorien's marriage to Gunther Maté, the births of their beautiful children Sophia and Philip, and the family's moves to Europe and Asia. The relationship between Katherine and Lorien nurtured them both. In 1996 Katherine brought her mother Jeannette to Vancouver where she was her devoted companion and caregiver until Jeannette's death in 1999. Katherine devoted her life to serving community. She worked as coordinator of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, developed a training program for Indigenous family support workers, and counselled women on their healing journeys from chemical dependency and abuse. In her later life, as a spiritual director, she provided counselling services to private clients. Through organizations such as Sacred Web, Oak Counselling Services, Unitarians, and Unison, Katherine fostered belonging and creativity to create a place where people were accepted and supported. As a Unitarian lay chaplain, Katherine was honoured to marry couples and to serve bereaved families. In midlife, Katherine's spirit awoke, and she discovered that she was lesbian. New worlds opened to her – love, sensuousness, and spirituality, some hard lessons and many great gifts. She embraced the Unitarian community, and she lent her voice to choral singing. With her grandmother's cello, Katherine's music-making in Ambleside Orchestra and a quartet of musical friends stretched and enriched her. As a teacher, counsellor, singer, worship coordinator, and facilitator, she worked to empower families and communities. To live with integrity each day, to live the strong values she was raised with, to be authentic to herself and others, and to receive and give love unconditionally – these became her watchwords. Katherine took in the world through her senses. Among her loves were her dear friend, Marylke Nieuwenhuis, her family and friends, the peaceful energy of water, solitude and adventure, singing, music-making, and story-writing. She will be remembered for her loyal and steadfast friendships, her bright smile, her intrinsic optimism and faith in humanity, and her trust in the process of positive change and healing. Katherine died of cancer on January 31, 2026. She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Gunther Maté, in 2023. She leaves her daughter, Lorien Maté; and grandchildren, Sophia and Philip; her brother, David and partner, Kathleen Flanagan and their children, Jonah and Halley; her sister, Frances and partner, Steve White; and many dear cousins and friends. Katherine's Celebration of Life will be held at Vancouver Unitarians, 949 West 49th, Vancouver, on March 20, 2026, at 11 a.m. If friends and family wish, a memorial donation to Doctors Without Borders would be deeply appreciated.