Karen Anne Stapleton (nee Kennedy)
Suddenly on November 11, 2013 at her home. Kay passed away at the age of 45.
Kay lived for her two sons, Owen 12 and Ben 8. Her passing has left a huge void in the lives of her boys and Terry her husband of 16 years; her Mother Gail and father Terry; sister Joan and her family, husband Jeff, nephew Alexander and niece Hilary. She was predeceased by her beloved Baba, Rose Popaden.
A small town girl at heart, Kay was born in Thompson and lived in The Pas and Flin Flon before heading to Winnipeg for University.
Kay described her chosen profession as CEO and President of her family. She fiercely advocated for her two children whom she was devoted to. The energy and creativity she put into their happiness was peerless. Her daily life lessons on living the golden rule shaped them into the compassionate boys they are.
Her favorite Mother’s Day gift was a truck load of manure for her beloved gardens. She treasured getting dirty with her boys. She loved to be busy and always had a few projects on the go. A trait she attributed to her father. Her mother inspired her to be a voracious reader and talented writer.
During her time at CBC she was a social force. The organizer of Glow in the Dark Bowling nights and Corn Maze visits.
She forged some long lasting friendships during her studies at Red River’s Creative Communications program and while getting her B.A. in Language Arts at the University of Manitoba.
She went on her first great adventure after her high school years in Flin Flon. She travelled to Australia as a Rotary Club exchange student. She made lifelong friendships which she recently celebrated at a reunion in Spain.
If you were fortunate enough to call Kay friend you had a tireless ally in life.
If you would like to pay it forward on Kay’s behalf please consider three of her favorite things. She loved gardening and was a supporter and frequent visitor of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory. She always held a special place in her heart for children and the Children’s Hospital. She owed a debt of gratitude to the Canadian Blood Services for saving her older son’s life.
A Memorial Service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at Sturgeon Creek United Church in Winnipeg.
We cherish her memory and will forever hold her in our hearts.
