Katherine Barbara Suggitt

Born September 6, 1954 in Calgary, Alberta, Kathy passed away peacefully at her Burnaby, BC home on December 18, 2023 after an 8 year journey with Frontotemporal dementia. Kathy is survived by her loving husband Robert (Bob) Suggitt, her parents Ken & Glenn Travers and her two brothers Geoff (Annemarie) and Don (Kati). Kathy was particularly close to, and shared many special moments with her nieces Caitlin & Erin and nephews Bryan & Kevin.

Growing up in Vancouver, Kathy was very much an adventurer at heart. Her love of the outdoors began early with days spent with family and friends on the ski slopes, sailing and camping. During high school while at Prince of Wales she went to the NWT with the school band in Yellowknife and Tuktoyaktuk. During those early days, she and Geoff also canoed around the Bowren Lakes in central BC with cousin Michael. Kathy would continue to enjoy the outdoors when possible including joining Annemarie on camping adventures with Erin, Caitlin and Bryan when they were young children which eventually evolved into an annual 'girl's' trip.

International travel was a passion for Kathy's entire life. After completing her education at Langara College in 1974, she and her best friend Marian Ciccone set off on a 4 month European voyage of discovery, travelling by train and thumb (hitchhiking). Riding (and crashing) mopeds on Corfu, taking in the running of the bulls in Pamplona, hiking the Isle of Sky and eating haggis with chips from a stall were all part of their adventure. Kathy had so much fun that she returned to Europe the following year with Geoff. Sleeping under olive trees, crewing on a sailboat through the Greek Islands, hiking the Alps and wandering exotic cities were all part of their experience. This innate sense of adventure was central to Kathy's very essence and continued whenever possible.

In 1976 Kathy and Bob married in Victoria, BC and lived in Vancouver while Kathy worked in the travel industry. In 1983 they divorced, and after working in Victoria for a couple of years Kathy moved to Thetis Island to study at Capernwray Harbour Bible Centre. Having strong office administrative skills Kathy stayed on and worked at the school until 1991. While there, Kathy developed a deep spiritual relationship with God which she quietly practiced the rest of her life.

In 1991 Kathy returned to Burnaby where she and Bob remarried. They later moved to California and onwards to Glasgow, Scotland for work finally moving 'home' to Burnaby in 2000. Kathy continued to support Bob throughout his engineering career helping to keep things on a level keel while also working in an administrative capacity at a church daycare. She loved small children evidenced by her consenting to being a godmother to three children including Caitlin.

Kathy also loved the many summer and New Years adventures that she and Bob enjoyed in Tofino with Don and Kati as well as their winter getaways in Hawaii. Often the Tofino adventures included the family dogs, Classy followed by Baxter, with both dogs adored by Kathy.

Kathy faced her journey with dementia like everything else in her life. Mostly head on with calm, openness and grace. She was very open about her Alzheimers/dementia experiences. In September, 2018 Kathy joined Annemarie and Geoff in France to walk 5 stages of a Camino For Alzheimer's Awareness. Kathy shared her dementia experiences which were blogged daily.

During the last several years of her life both Kathy and Bob were supported by their close friends Marian and Maya Butterfield, and the family deeply thanks both.

Please consider donating in Kathy's name to the BC Alzheimer Society who provided education, direction and support during Kathy's difficult journey. The family would particularly like to thank Gabi Townsend, now retired from the Society.