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BORN
May 16, 1923
DIED
December 04, 2015
Kathleen Oliver Obituary
Died peacefully, with family at her side, at the Glebe Centre in Ottawa on December 4, 2015. Kay was a long-time resident of Victoria, BC until she moved to Ottawa to be closer to family in 2010.
Kay was born on May 16, 1923 in Wapella, Saskatchewan. She grew up in Radville, Saskatchewan with her adoptive parents, Harry and Kate Dufton, and her sister Billie. That Kay always spoke of her childhood years in Radville in the "Dirty Thirties" in glowing terms is a testament to her loving family and community there and her optimistic nature.
Kay's childhood dream was to become a nurse but due to the family's limited means, it wasn't clear she could achieve this. When WWII broke out, Kay did her part by joining the WRCNS (Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service). After the war ended, Kay fulfilled her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse thanks to the Veteran's Credits she had earned, training at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. Kay worked as a nurse until she was 75 years old and loved it. She worked for two years at a TB hospital in Hawaii soon after graduation and was a public health nurse for many years, working in locations ranging from Bella Coola to Toronto, before focusing on geriatric nursing in the latter part of her career in Victoria. She particularly enjoyed the years she spent working in First Nations communities in Saskatchewan and BC.
Kay was a very warm and generous person, with a laugh that would fill any room. She had many friends from each phase of her life and kept in touch with all of them, near and far. She was a prolific letter writer, both in terms of the number of people she wrote to and the length of her letters. As a friend on the receiving end of her letters once observed, "She could write about peeling a potato and make it sound interesting, and it would take six pages". She was as avid a storyteller in person as on paper.
Kay married Frank Oliver in 1964 and they had one daughter, Denise. Frank died in 1992. In her later years, Kay devoted herself to her lovely garden in Victoria, to her many friends, and to her daughter Denise and grandsons Darius and Marcus, whom she adored. She was a feisty character to the end, and lived up to the stereotype of nurses making the worst patients. While she was usually sweet with the wonderful staff at the Glebe Centre in her final years, she made best efforts to refuse all medication and encouraged other residents to do the same.
Kay is survived by her daughter Denise (Michael Sobkin) and her cherished grandsons Darius and Marcus. A celebration of Kay's life will be arranged at a later date in Victoria. In lieu of flowers, please take a friend or two out for lunch, as that is what Kay would be doing if she were still able.
Kay was born on May 16, 1923 in Wapella, Saskatchewan. She grew up in Radville, Saskatchewan with her adoptive parents, Harry and Kate Dufton, and her sister Billie. That Kay always spoke of her childhood years in Radville in the "Dirty Thirties" in glowing terms is a testament to her loving family and community there and her optimistic nature.
Kay's childhood dream was to become a nurse but due to the family's limited means, it wasn't clear she could achieve this. When WWII broke out, Kay did her part by joining the WRCNS (Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service). After the war ended, Kay fulfilled her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse thanks to the Veteran's Credits she had earned, training at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. Kay worked as a nurse until she was 75 years old and loved it. She worked for two years at a TB hospital in Hawaii soon after graduation and was a public health nurse for many years, working in locations ranging from Bella Coola to Toronto, before focusing on geriatric nursing in the latter part of her career in Victoria. She particularly enjoyed the years she spent working in First Nations communities in Saskatchewan and BC.
Kay was a very warm and generous person, with a laugh that would fill any room. She had many friends from each phase of her life and kept in touch with all of them, near and far. She was a prolific letter writer, both in terms of the number of people she wrote to and the length of her letters. As a friend on the receiving end of her letters once observed, "She could write about peeling a potato and make it sound interesting, and it would take six pages". She was as avid a storyteller in person as on paper.
Kay married Frank Oliver in 1964 and they had one daughter, Denise. Frank died in 1992. In her later years, Kay devoted herself to her lovely garden in Victoria, to her many friends, and to her daughter Denise and grandsons Darius and Marcus, whom she adored. She was a feisty character to the end, and lived up to the stereotype of nurses making the worst patients. While she was usually sweet with the wonderful staff at the Glebe Centre in her final years, she made best efforts to refuse all medication and encouraged other residents to do the same.
Kay is survived by her daughter Denise (Michael Sobkin) and her cherished grandsons Darius and Marcus. A celebration of Kay's life will be arranged at a later date in Victoria. In lieu of flowers, please take a friend or two out for lunch, as that is what Kay would be doing if she were still able.
Published by The Times Colonist from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13, 2015.
Memories and Condolences
for Kathleen Oliver
3 Entries
Manuela (Madeleine) Corriveau
December 25, 2015
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Vera Paal
December 22, 2015
Miss your laugh!
Sally Campbell
December 12, 2015
Will remember Kay forever. A true friend and wonderful travelling companion on trip to Japan. A truly gifted nurse held in great esteem by fellow nurses of whatever age or stage. Would like to be advised of any memorial plans in Victoria for Kay.
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