Kathleen Finucane

FINUCANE _ Kathleen Elliot Austin January 6, 1920 - March 14, 2007 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and extraordinary friend "Bill" Finucane." Bill (nee Taylor) was born in Vancouver, eldest daughter of Austin and Kathleen Taylor. A graduate of Crofton House School, she married John Finucane of Spokane, Washington and began a new life as a bride in Pasadena, California where she lived for 61 years. She returned seven years ago to Vancouver to be near her family. Predeceased by her husband, John, and her brother, Austin, she is survived by her daughter Kathy, son-in-law, Peter Armstrong, grandchildren, Michael and Kristin, and a sister, Pat Buckley, of Stamford Connecticut. Bill led a charmed life filled with a wide variety of interests. She adored people and developed a large circle of friends wherever she went. One of her great passions in life was horse racing which she managed to fit in amongst all her philanthropic pursuits. Opening day at "Santa Anita" was a must. She had many friends among the racing community in California. Bill believed strongly in helping others. She served as President of the Pasadena Junior League, was a founding member of the Pasadena Senior Center and worked for may years at the American Red Cross in Pasadena. She was later drafted to head up the Department of Volunteers at the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Red Cross. There she organized disaster relief, refugee assistance, and spoke around the country about their blood program. She served on the National Board of Governors for the American Red Cross in Washington, DC and received their highest volunteer honor, The Averell Harriman Award. She was a member of the California Committee on the status of women under then Governor Ronald Reagan, a member of St. John's Hospital Board in Santa Monica and in the 1980's Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Critical Care in Palm Desert. Bill's greatest joy was spending time with her two grandchildren, Michael and Kristin, upon whom she doted. Always up for an adventure, she jumped at the chance to cross the Atlantic in a sailboat after she "retired" from volunteer service with her brother-in-law, Bill as the only woman in a crew of seven. In later years Bill enjoyed renewing her friendships in Vancouver and savouring sunsets on her West End deck with her life-long pal, Doreen MacKenzie Sanders. Bill was a great lady with tremendous charisma, an accomplished citizen of the world who embraced life with a keen sense of fun and did a lot for her community along the way. She will be missed terribly by all. Our family would like to thank all the loving helpers from We Care, Anne Munro, Sara from Classic Caregivers, Dr. Bob Wakefield for their years of kindness, and the wonderful nurses at the Home Hospice Program. The family is indebted to all for making Bill's final days as comfortable as possible. A celebration of her life will be held Thursday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m., at St. Mary's Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice in Bill's name.