Kathleen Mary Elizabeth Hamilton (Kaye)

Kathleen Mary Elizabeth Hamilton (Kaye) November 9th,1929 - August 21st, 2021. Our lovely, effervescent mother and friend passed away gently in the early afternoon on Saturday, August 21st, 2021, in Mississauga, Ontario. Kaye was 91 years young.

Kaye was predeceased by her parents Annie and George Milner, her husband The Reverend Louis Stevenson Hamilton (Steve) and a well-fed litter of assorted dogs and cats with a guinea pig thrown in for good measure.

Kaye was a proud and loving mother, and she will be dearly missed by her adoring children: Margaret Hamilton (Jim), Roderick Hamilton (Paula), Allison Hamilton, James Hamilton (Kathy), and Jennifer Bellini (Andrew). She was a cherished grandmother (known simply as Nanny) to Christina, Alexandra, and Lindsay Anderson (Rod), Shaylene Hamilton, Emeline Depratto (Mike) Anyssa Hamilton, Jonathon and Jacob Bellini and great-grandmother to Morgan, Jaida, and Henry.

Kaye was a free spirit, kind, witty, talented, and endearingly outgoing. People were drawn to her energy. She had a genuine and unique ability to engage anyone in conversation about simply anything. Kaye was curious and had an extraordinary and eclectic intellect. She was an avid theatre goer and music fan. Kaye loved to dance and was always up for a road trip that included a spontaneous picnic.

Courageous and strong, Kaye would just pick up and keep going, no matter what difficulties she faced, with a cheerful smile and an “oh well” that catapulted her forward. She made the world a happier place with her warmth and an infectious laugh that came from a genuine and most precious place.

Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Kaye was a true pan-Canadian, living in communities including Nappan, Grande Pre, Florenceville, Foremost, Bentley, Port Mouton, Mossbank, Lachute and Saskatoon. After many years of retirement in Saskatoon, Kaye moved to Ontario to be closer to her children and lived an active life at the VIVA Mississauga retirement community.

Kaye’s passion for the arts, animal rights and the environment were supported through her philanthropy and volunteer work with the Saskatoon SPCA, her role as a docent at the Western Development Museum, a member of the United Church Women (UCW), and champion of the environment through her support of The Nature Conservancy.

Kaye was a gifted water colour artist with one of her early works still in the collection of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin) in Lethbridge. Her talent at needle work was shared through numerous pieces created by knitting, quilting, needlepoint, and rug hooking. One must appreciate Kaye’s slipper and sock designs – bold and eclectic colour patterns, not for the more conservative of tastes. Kaye’s crafts will be cherished by all those who received a handmade work of art from her.

Kaye’s family dinners and her legendary butterscotch pie and orange bowknots can never be duplicated by even the finest pastry chef. Certainly, the joy and laughter she brought to every occasion will forever and longingly be missed.

At Kaye's request, her ashes will be scattered in the wilderness of Ontario’s near north, an area that inspired some of her extraordinary watercolours and made her joyful.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Aphasia Institute in recognition of Kaye. Or simply walk in the forest or along a beach and take pause to remember a story or recall a gesture that makes you smile, laugh out loud or cry, as you remember this joyful, lovely human being Kaye.

A celebration of life will be held when it is safe for us all to gather. Until then be well, happy, and kind – Kaye/Mom/Nanny would want nothing more.