Katherine Elizabeth Falls

Kay or Ammie, as her grandchildren affectionately called her, was born on Cockburn Island, a small island on Lake Huron. She was the eldest of 5 and welcomed into the world by her parents Mary and Reg Fahrer. She was raised in a small village there and describes it as one of her most favorite memories, a carefree and loving atmosphere where she was surrounded and guided by loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She thought it as the perfect example of “it takes a village to raise a child.” It instilled the importance of family and connection, values that she modeled her whole life.

She moved off “the island” at age 7 to the small town of Thessalon, ON., and then to Sault Ste Marie to finish her education at Sault Ste Marie Technical School, with training to be a “secretary”. Early in her career, she met and married her much loved partner in life, Lorne, in 1956.

Together they faced life’s challenges and built a life that supported one another.  They raised Kathy and Mike, relocated to new places gathering many friends and experiences and career paths along the way.

Kay’s strong work ethic, innate people skills and expertise as an administrative assistant, was valued by her many employers… Industrial Acceptance Corporation, Algoma Central Railway, Ontario Lands and Forest, Ontario Provincial Police, and Sault Ste Marie Board of Education where she efficiently managed principals and families at Rosedale and Manitou Park Schools.

Throughout Kay’s life, she also shared her loving warm personality, creativity, gift of hospitality, painting, photography, active listening skills, sense of humor, fun spirit and adventure through curling, trailering, travelling, volunteer work with the Rebekah Lodge, with 4 different churches, Telecare crisis line, and as a palliative care visitor.

She loved children and considered family to be the most important thing, this to the benefit of her own kids, grandchildren, her many nieces, nephews and cousins who reaped what she sowed. In 1984, she was thrilled to start adding grandchildren to her circle of love. She and Lorne were then christened, Ammie and Bampa.

In 1997, the Ammie and Bampa team moved to Saskatoon to be actively involved with their kids and grandkids in the west, and to spend their final days, surrounded by their family. Kay was thrilled to live long enough to meet her 2 great grandchildren just before she left this world and loved hearing “Ammie” roll off the tongue of her great grandbaby.

Sadly, Kay’s family and friends said goodbye to her in Saskatoon at the Hospice at Glengarda on March 17, 2023. In her 88^th year, she went off on that ethereal path to join Lorne, her husband of 58 years, her parents, her siblings Janet Smithers and Bud Fahrer, and her “favorite son in law” Ken Gullen.  Being a woman of faith, she was confident that she would be united with them all again, along with her numerous family members and friends, who had predeceased her.

Her loving and accepting ways, authentic self, dedication to family and friends, will continue to be missed and cherished by so many… her daughter, Kathy Gullen of Saskatoon, her son, Michael Falls (Adrienne) of Sicamous, BC , her sisters Judy Jones (George) and Susan Ramsay (James) of  Sault Ste Marie ON., her grandchildren Ryan Gullen(Keitha), Tyler Gullen(Jill), Kalon and  Ben Falls, her great grandsons Wells and August, brother in law Carl Falls(Patty) of Sault Ste Marie, ON., sisters in law Helen VanEvery of St. Catherines, ON., and Marlene Falls of Sault Ste Marie, ON., and the many others who loved her, were mentored by her, and called her Auntie and cousin and  friend.

In spite of the challenges of her cancer diagnosis 3 years ago, she appreciated the gift of each day and continued to inspire all of us with her love, grace, grit, wicked sense humour and fun.

The family will host a Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at St Paul’s United Church, 454 Egbert Avenue, Saskatoon, SK.

As mauve was Kay’s favorite color, you are invited to don something purplish and join friends and family or at the online streamed service, as we honour this loving and gracious lady.

If you choose to, you may make a donation in her name, to the Hospice at Glengarda, 301 Hilliard Street East, Saskatoon, SK., or the Salvation Army, 38 Bateman Cresent, Saskatoon, SK.

The service will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/stpaulsuc

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honoured to be entrusted with the care of Kay Falls.