KATHLEEN SHANE "KAY" LYONS

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 25th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Windermere on the Mount, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Ivey Spencer Centre on Windermere Rd., 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. Kathleen "Kay" Shane Lyons passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026, in London, Ontario. Kay was born on her family's farm in Lemieux, Ontario, on April 29,1930, to Margaret Hazel (Bradley) and John Simon Shane. She was the much loved older sister of the late Harry Shane (Greta). She was predeceased by her husband, Charles "Chuck" Lyons, whom she married in 1953. Together they enjoyed 39 years of marriage and welcomed with love their large and precious family of seven children: Robert (Amy Holton), Anna Marie, Christine (Shane O'Leary), Mary-Pat, John (Laura Johnston), Bernard and Paula (Allan Davey). In turn, she cherished each of her 21 grandchildren and their partners: Shaun, Robby, Danny and Kevin Lyons; Alexandra Vigue, Madeleine Broschart and Ursula Kerr; Thomas and Dylan O'Leary; Curran and Aidan McConnell; Connor Lyons, Emily Nagy, Victoria Lyons; Emanuelle, Shea, Colm and Fionn Lyons; Tess, Sam and Owen Davey. Her 11 great-grandchildren were a much loved bonus: Evie and Parker Vigue, Anabelle, Gigi and Romy Broschart, Arlo and Imogen Kerr, Jett and Lila Nagy, Mia Rojas O'Leary and Emmett Lyons. At a young age, Kay was sent from her home on the farm to a convent school in Vankleek Hill, Ontario. Though a curious and accomplished student, she hated life at the convent and would cry every Sunday night when the taxi would deliver her from the train. The Taxi driver whose task it was to take her each week felt so sorry for her that he and his wife offered her a room in their home while she finished her studies. She went on to graduate from Queen's University in 1951, and then the School of Social Work, St. Pat's College, Ottawa, in 1952. She began her career as a social worker in Sudbury, where she met Chuck and then did as much part-time work in Ottawa as her busy family life would allow. After moving to London, Ontario, in 1968, she began a 25-year career with the separate school board, helping children and families needing specialized services and support. Many of her team members became and remained her closest friends. Kay loved the simple pleasures: a good mystery novel, a long walk through Springbank park, reading the paper in the evening by the fire with Chuck and discussing the day's news, a conversation with a friend, a cup of tea with a sweet treat, plays at the Grand theatre or an afternoon at the symphony. She relished the sound of children playing in the backyard pool or building a fort in the dining room or snuggled up for a sleepover on the back porch. She gamely tolerated the frequent slam of the screen door when a child ran outside with a popsicle and yet another peanut butter sandwich. She often described the summers with the backyard full of grandchildren as the best of her life. She loved a good joke and sought out joy and optimism everywhere she could. When she got laughing, especially when she couldn't control it, well that was just the best. She was a champion level opponent when it came to paying for any restaurant or coffee shop tab and few of her family can recall successfully paying their own way or heaven forbid, treating her. She loved pretty clothing and footwear and every season looked forward to just the right sweater or tee shirt, jacket or shoes, and maybe even a pair of stylish jeans, forgetting she already had a vast selection in her perpetually over-filled closet. Her heart was always open and her advice and wisdom made us all feel safe. As one of her grandchildren said, she made everyone feel like they were her favourite. She was an accomplished bridge player, an interest begun in her years at Queen's. She was forever a farmer's daughter, noticing shifts in rainfall and the height of the summer corn. In her later years she loved sitting at Paula and Allan's on a sunny day enjoying the flowers and a summer breeze and eating a tomato fresh from the garden in her BLT. That sandwich was usually eaten after insisting she wasn't really hungry and didn't want to be any trouble. Her life was filled with kindness, integrity, hard work, hard times, good times, love, lots and lots of children and lots of fun. Those of us who knew her, loved her and were loved by her know just how lucky we were. Her ability to stay engaged with the world, to be curious and brave was a tremendous gift to all of us and a master class in how to grow old with grace and dignity. We will miss her so much. We wish to thank all of doctors, nurses, physios and OTs, and personal care workers at McCarthy place in Stratford, Ontario, and The Manor Village in London, Ontario, who so kindly and ably provided our mom with the support she needed over her last few years. You made a difference to her and to us. Donations to the London Children's Museum or Diabetes Canada in Kathleen's memory would be appreciated.