KATHERINE ANNE WALMSLEY

Katherine Anne Walmsley, RN, 73. Peacefully on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at her home in London, Ontario. Katherine was born on March 29, 1952, in Hamilton of the late E. Dorothy MacGregor and Dr. Joseph F.S. Walmsley. Beloved wife of Dr. Robert Hegele and devoted mother to Christian (Sydney) and Charlotte Hegele. Beloved sister of Peter, Charlotte, and David. Loving aunt to Ashley Jones, Jon-David, and Kate Walmsley; and great-aunt to Devin Jones. A curious, intelligent, and driven woman with diverse interests, Katherine had a varied career with positions in primary education, stage lighting, interior design, nursing, and antiques retail. The daughter of an army medical officer and corporate medical director, Katherine graduated from Humber College's nursing program in 1980, complementing a Fine Arts degree. Katherine practised in Toronto as a registered nurse in both internal and psychiatric medicine. While on duty at Toronto General Hospital she met her husband, Dr. Robert Hegele, in 1981. They married in Toronto in 1987. Throughout her life, Katherine was a fervent aesthete and tenacious creator of visual art in different media. In the 1990s and early 2000s, she perfected the painting techniques of Renaissance Masters in oil and egg tempera. In 2006, she turned her attention to fibre art and revival of traditional Maritime rug hooking as part of the "Simply Hooked" guild. Katherine hooked in both the primitive and fine genres, looping dyed wool strands into fabric paintings of magnificent depth and delicacy. Katherine's artistic merit and accomplishment were recognised with a long-term residency at The Arts Project, now TAP Centre for Creativity. In 2005, Katherine became a member of the CMHA's Mental Health Promotion Committee, raising awareness of mental health issues in London-Middlesex. Katherine bridged her passions for visual art and mental health by inaugurating the annual "Framing the Phoenix" art exhibition in 2006. Katherine strongly believed that art could aid the recovery process and reduce the public stigma surrounding mental health. Katherine was intrepid in thought, vehement in expression, and resolute in action. She endued her children with her fierce loyalty and compassion for all of God's creation. Katherine's love for history and tradition coexisted seamlessly with her bohemian, feminist, and inclusive instincts. Her abiding love of animals, especially her dogs, shaped life in the family home and remained a source of comfort until the very end. Katherine will be remembered for her courage, conviction, and faithfulness. She will be missed for her nurturance, generosity, and counsel. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, November 29th, at 2:00 p.m., at the Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James St. at Richmond, London. Following the service, a reception will be held at The London Club. Private family committal service on Monday, December 1st, at Woodland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to TAP Centre for Creativity (https://www.tapcreativity.org/) or Ontario SPCA (https://ontariospca.ca).