LINDA MAY WILLIAMS (CATHCART) (BREMNER)

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LINDA MAY WILLIAMS (CATHCART, BREMNER) November 2, 1950 - June 5, 2002 STORY OF THE FIVE BALLS "Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends and integrity. And youre keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to realize that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will come back. The other four ballsfamily, health, friends, and integrityare made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life." - James Patterson By the age of 50, I was a fairly successful juggler. My work ball had bounced back a few times. In 1990 I successfully landed a position with Winnipeg Economic Development Corporation leading to a rewarding career as Director of Operations. I was past President for the Manitoba Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and Secretary-Treasurer for Seed Winnipeg. My ball of family, friends and integrity were intact. Between 1989 and 1991, my health ball was seriously damaged with lymphoma. Using my own bone marrow, Health Sciences Centre (HSC) repaired the damage with a transplant, leaving only a scratch of scarring in my lungs called pulmonary fibrosis. Following this temporary setback, I managed to keep all five balls in the air until May 2001 when I contracted pneumonia shortly after a bout of shingles. I carefully passed my health ball to Seven Oaks Hospital; however, the regulations of the WRHA game caused Seven Oaks to fumble the ball with a premature discharge while I was still very ill. Despite regular follow-up visits to my doctor, my health rapidly deteriorated. On June 22, 2001, I was rushed to the Health Sciences Centre by ambulance. By July 30, 2001, my health ball was back in the air, but it would never again be whole. I was permanently handicapped, requiring continuous steroids and oxygen. There was no foreseeable cure. The condition was referred to as end-stage lung disease, and I was given a prognosis of only months to live. Despite this prognosis, I optimistically took up the struggle each day. But on June 5, 2002, I finally succumbed, my family by my side. My juggling days are done. But I leave this world knowing I was loved. To the loved ones left behind, I say, dont cry because my life is over; smile because my life happened. I leave behind: * My caring, compassionate and exceptional husband, Kerry Williams. * My Dad, Clayton Cathcart (Airdrie, AB). * My mother-in-law, Olive Williams (Winnipeg, MB). * My son, Kevin Miller and his wife Heidi, their son Huw and daughter Gretchen (Abbotsford, BC). * My brother, Glen Cathcart, his wife Glenda, their son Jesse and daughter Matti (Anmore, BC). * My brother, Lionel Cathcart, his wife Cally, their son Jason and daughter Jenilee (Irricana, AB). * My sister, Caroline Cathcart and her life partner Tony Wasilenko and their daughters, Shelley and Darla (Victoria, BC). * My brother, Dale Cathcart, his wife Faith, their daughter Samantha and son Ryan (Calgary, AB). * My brother, Todd and his wife Lisa (Calgary, AB). * My sister, Patricia Kerr, her husband Kim and their daughters, Vanessa and Emily (Airdrie, AB). * My sister Sheila Storey, her husband Dwayne, their daughter Megan and son Jordan (Airdrie, AB). I was predeceased by: * My Mom Tina Cathcart on March 4, 2000. Relatives and close friends will celebrate my life at St. Michaels Church, 120-8th Avenue, Victoria Beach, on Monday, June 10 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 09, 2002