Obituary of Josephine Kiss

Joey Kiss Joey’s last visit occurred on November 11, 2015. She was born, Josephine Maud Lee, on the 22nd day of the second month, 1922, near Shell Lake, Saskatchewan to parents Florence and Reginald Lee who emigrated from England. She was a kind, gentle woman who found love in everyone. After being raised in a loving home with her sister Kitty (Don and children Lee, Murray, Allyson), she next found love reflected in the bright eyes of the children she taught in her first one room schoolhouse in Shell Lake Rural to her last classroom in WP Bate in Saskatoon. She initially taught with a certificate from Normal School and continued to pursue her education obtaining Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (with distinction) degrees from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in anthropology with a minor in art. In 1947, she married the love of her life – Joe Kiss – and, after living and teaching in rural Saskatchewan, set down roots in Montgomery in 1952. In those communities and in Trinity United Church they found life-long friends whom they adored. Joe and Joey expanded their circle of love to include their daughter Sylvia who passed away in infancy, sons Adrian and Vernon (Karen), grandchildren Aaron Joe (Vanessa), Sharayah (Lee) and their mother Danielle (Kerry); Kimberly (Devin), Jeremy (Yonina) and their mother Judy (Kim). Joey was delighted in this past year with her first great-grandchild Ahliyah. Joey’s curiosity and pursuit of learning led to great travel adventures in Australia, Asia, China, northern and central Europe, Panama, Hawaii, and New Zealand and throughout our beautiful Canada. Her travels inspired many paintings as she continued to develop her artistic talents from her early art classes at Emma Lake with G. Kenderdine, K. Quinlan and G. Snelgrove. She painted and exhibited late into her life, and engaged in her love of history writing articles for the Saskatchewan Folklore Magazine. After Joe’s passing (1994), she remained very active in Trinity United Church, sang in the church choir, and continued loving friendships with her Montgomery friends, some of whom moved together to the Lord Nelson and to the Villa Royale communities. Late in her life, it remained a challenge to arrange time with Joey given her lively schedule of canasta, painters and crafters meetings, church events and visits with friends. During her final days in hospital she had many friends and family come see her. She deeply appreciated the love and support of all – especially her niece Allyson travelling from California to share time with her “second mom.” Joey quoted her own mother as saying, “ I am ready to meet my maker, but I love you all so much I don’t want to leave”. She treasured life and those whom she met. She was peaceful and quiet in her final days under compassionate care of Royal University Hospital nursing staff. Any donations may be made to St. David’s Trinity United Church