KAY (KATHLEEN) MARTINSON

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KAY (KATHLEEN) MARTINSON (nee CHEPIL) Peacefully, on February 28, 2003 at the Health Sciences Centre, Kay passed away after 82 fulfilling years of life. Kay was loved and appreciated as "mom", "baba", "auntie", and a friend and supporter of many. Her absence will be deeply felt. Kay is survived by her three daughters, Lezlie, Mariem, and Susan; sons-in-law, Ross Nicholls and Graham Thomson; grandchildren, Ryan and James Nicholls, and Lisa, Heather, and Michael Thomson; sister Irene Salay and brother Morris Chepil; sisters-in-law, Jean Chepil, Roberta Chepil and Evelyn Chepil; and many nieces and nephews. Kay was born September 3, 1921, the second youngest of the 13 children of Paranka and Stefan Chepil. She spent her youth and early adult years in and around Edwin and Portage la Prairie, MB. She enjoyed the full life of being part of a large Ukrainian farm family. She often recalled walking through the snow in her brothers footsteps to the one-room school, figure skating at Island Park, and dances in Portage. As a young adult, she worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, until she met and married Archie Martinson in 1949. She moved to Winnipeg and put her heart and energy into raising her daughters and supporting her husband in his business. With the support of Al Anon and through her awakened faith in Christ, Kay came though some difficult years and developed into the strong woman so many love and will miss. She devoted the later decades of her life to loving and supporting her children, grandchildren, nieces, and other family members and friends in any way they needed. She was always "on-call", ready with a ride, an ear or a word. Kay was deeply involved in the life of her church family, including Trinity Baptist, St. Aidans, Christian Business Women, the Y-Encounter, Trinity TV, and Bridges for Peace. Through her passion for Christ and His work she continued to grow in strength and wisdom til her last day. A good friend, the late Professor Arthur Houle, said he would have loved to have her as one of his students. Mom had heart surgery 16 years ago and had lived well, much longer than was expected. Her heart began to give out and she was tired. In the last months she expressed to family members that she was delighted in the directions their lives were taking. She knew her time was short. She was ready to go home to the Lord. The funeral and a service celebrating Kays life will be held at St. Aidans Anglican Church, Kingsway Avenue and Campbell Street at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 4. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to do so may make donations in Kays memory, to Bridges for Peace, P.O. Box 21001, RPO Charleswood, Winnipeg, MB R3R 3R2. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 03, 2003