Obituary of Kathryn Yvonne Howsam

Kay Howsam Where is heaven? Heaven is a place where people can go and taste pure water and see winter snow. Heaven’s a place that’s good and clean where you can breathe the air and the grass is always green. Heaven’s a beautiful park where there are birds to sing and you are safe after dark. Heaven is a place where you won’t come to harm. I lived there once. I lived on a farm. Kathryn “Kay” Yvonne (Vindeg) Howsam passed away peacefully with all her family by her side on Monday August 21 - the same day that would have been her husband Len’s 93rd Birthday. We are sure they spent his birthday dancing in the clouds. Kay was born December 12, 1928 in small town Saskatchewan. She grew up on a farm near Lucky Lake with her parents and three sisters. She moved to Saskatoon in her late teens to go to business college. That eventually took her to Eecol Electric where she met the mechanical mastermind Len Howsam. From there they entered a partnership in life and business - operating A & A Electric. Kay was Len’s backbone. She ran his business and raised four children - all while putting up with the constant flow of people at her backdoor for things for “Handy Andy” to fix. Kay took it all in her stride “paging” Len with the doorbell that went straight to the basement workshop to call him up. The Cosmopolitan Club provided over 45-years of community engagement and lifelong friendships. Kay’s “Cosmo Pals” were a vital part of her life. From Victoria to Istanbul, Kay travelled the world. She spent parts of her winter in Victoria every year for over three decades. In her later years she treated her entire family to amazing cruises - sailing the high seas and losing “20 bucks” in the ship casino. For Kay Waskesiu was the “nearest place to heaven.” Getting close to nature and catching a glimpse of God’s creatures was where she was happiest. Kay was a gifted card player. From playing bridge with her friends, Kaiser tournaments with her family, or Cribbage with her grandson Benj - she was never happier than when she was dealing a deck of cards. Kay’s grandchildren Lara, Scotty (Megan), Becky (Mike), Craig, Benjamin and Evan were so lucky to have their “Grams.” She was always a positive light in their lives. No one lit up her life in the last year like her great granddaughter Tavie. Tavie Patricia is now growing up in the home "Great Grams” raised her own children. Kay is survived by her children Judy (Marshall), Jeff (Kelly), and Karen (Kevin). Waiting for her in heaven is her beloved son Clifford who was tragically killed by a drunk driver at just 19. Kay is survived by her sister Bun (Jean) and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sisters Mary and Betty. The family wants to thank the amazing angels at St. Paul’s Pallative Care Unit who made Kay’s last days the best they could be. Kay was a kind, caring, compassionate woman that will be missed by anyone that had the privilege of knowing her. Kay’s family feels eternally grateful that despite numerous health challenges we had the privilege of watching her grow old. She not only got to watch her grandchildren grow-up, but also got to experience the joy of being a great-grandmother.