A woman of unparalleled compassion: Kathy’s eternal impact

By Steve Thorlakson

Oh Kathy, you left us all way too soon! But we are content that you are safe in the arms of our Lord, and that he has bigger and better things for you, and without the physical limitations of the past.

Kathy truly was, and is an angel. The most totally unselfish person I have ever known. Even during the past few weeks in the hospital, Kathy was concerned to not inconvenience the staff, even when we told her that’s what the nurses and staff were there for – to help her. Kathy no longer needed to make everything she did about helping others. Kathy even wanted no flowers so that people might have more ability to help her favourite charity – Operation Christmas Child.

We met very soon after Kathy moved to Fort St. John, and I was immediately smitten. I had two daughters from a previous marriage, and both Shannon and Jennifer referred to Kathy as their “bonus Mom”. Kathy doted over them dressing them up in cute girlie outfits, playing games, and teaching them crafts. When son Trevor came along in 1987 and daughter Meagan in 1993, that shifted a bit, but Kathy never lost her focus of making sure that all the extended family felt loved and important.

Kathy was blessed with a phone call from Willy Olesen a few days before she passed, and Willy said “the Care Home would never have been such a great place without Kathy’s loving hands”. Kathy modestly said “Oh, I don’t know,” but we all told Willy we agreed! Kathy had a deep and abiding love for seniors, and the names ring out as touchstones of history in the Peace. Augustine Jumbie, who only spoke Cree, could communicate with Kathy. John Unruh, a veteran of the White Army during the Russian Revolution adored her. Hans Kvikstad, Archie Ferguson, Edith Waite, and so many more, I only regret that their names slip my memory, but their faces are burned into my brain, all with a deep affection and love for Kathy. Her job was to keep them active and engaged, to make their quality of life the best that it could be, but she couldn’t do all that byherself. What she could do though, was recruit volunteers to help in numbers that would astound you.

During the 1984 BC Winter Games, Kathy and I were in charge of the souvenirs. Kathy with her fashion merchandising background and skills at recruiting, we made a tremendous team. To the disappointment of the BC Games brass, we committed to purchase locally, not from his friends; anything to give the local economy a boost during the worst recession since the National Energy Program. The result was that our sales and net profit set all-time records that would not be bested for 20 years, and that meant a larger legacy left for Fort St. John.

Kathy continued to devote her time, talent and treasure to so many things. She taught Sunday School at the Presbyterian Church, organized a highly successful Alzheimer’s Family Support Group, served on the Board of the Fort St. John and Area Seniors Care Foundation, and so many more. The pinnacle of her joy was achieved when grandchildren started to come along: Kayleigh, Sydney, Jay, Heidi, Ethan and Hudson. Nothing gave her more joy than finding just the right gifts to shower on those she loved. Meagan in her piano playing, band at school and Highland Dance, Trevor in soccer, hockey, school band. Nothing was so important as to overwhelm what the kids and the grandkids needed. And to top it all off, Kathy put up with an overbearing and opinionated husband, and stood by me – always.

In 2014, Kathy discovered she had a very rare form of cancer, and she probably had it for 10 to 15 years prior. Very slow growing, with no known cure, only containment strategies. Surgery for the primary tumour, then a week every three months for 5 years at the Cross Clinic in Edmonton for a specialized clinical trial. It tested all of us, but Kathy remained stoic, positive and prayerful, taking up crocheting on the road trips and quilting, including a quilting cruise to the Bahamas – all to give away to those she loved, and often to people she never even knew through the Salvation Army.

Kathy loved travelling, and we started with our honeymoon in Hawaii in 1985, and the list is so long that I won’t repeat it, but her favourite trip of all was to Nicaragua, with a group from Operation Christmas Child to actually hand out the shoeboxes full of gifts to little children in Nicaraguan villages. Even when suffering with her illness late last fall, she organized, again, the local Operation Christmas Child collection and packing that happened right here in the basement, with the participation of that host of volunteers and many seniors.

None of us are truly worthy of the love Kathy gave, and gave, and gave, but we all are eternally grateful for her gifts to us, and the inspiration of her strength of character is a pattern to follow. God bless you and Rest in Peace our angel.

It’saGirl!

It’saGirl! LEXI JO

L’HEUREUX

Parents: Joel&MollyL’Heureux

Weight: 6lbs15oz

Length: 19inches

Time: 07:15am

Date: March4,2023

Hometown: CecilLake,BC

Jane Edith

TOEWS

Parents: Colin&CorinnaToews

Weight: 7lbs9oz

Length: 18.9inches

Time: 09:57pm

Date: February28,2023

Hometown: FortSt.John,BC

CELEBRATEBABIES

BIRTH Ph:250.261.7563

Baby Bouquet Wall

www.fsjhospitalfoundation.ca email: fsjhf@northernhealth.ca

Viva Swanson

A champion of quality care in the north

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

A Fort St. John health care practitioner is one of 19 individuals and groups being recognized by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council.

Viva Swanson, leadership development advisor for Northern Health in the northeast region, was recognized as an ‘Everyday Champion’ for patient safety and quality care as part of the council’s 2023 BC Quality Awards.

The patient council says Swanson’s work “has significantly improved how people are cared for in BC’s northeastern communities, which are among the most culturally diverse and remote in the province, with residents facing daily challenges accessing health care.” patients without access to primary care other than attending the ER. The clinic was opened and operational within two months in January 2014;

• working with the North Peace Division of Family Practice to open the unattached patient clinic in July 2014;

• working as executive lead for Northern Health’s Perinatal program, establishing a team approach across all disciplines and identifying regional quality improvement opportunities that would benefit rural and remote communities; and

ARIES  MAR 21/APR 20

It is very important that you do not count your chickens before they hatch, Aries. Something you suspected was a sure thing may not pan out this week.

TAURUS  APR 21/MAY 21

You have a secret desire that you want to let out, Taurus. But you’re not sure of the timing. Stop letting your head dictate your heart and put plans into action.

GEMINI  MAY 22/JUN 21

Friendships could falter due to your insecurities, Gemini. Others want to be around you for good reason. Try to see the value in relationships and make the e ort to socialize.

CANCER  JUN 22/JUL 22

Cancer, you could be defeating your own e orts this week. There may be something telling you that you’re not good enough to go for your goals. A pep talk can put you back on course.

LEO  JUL 23/AUG 23

There’s a fresh development in your love life coming down the pike, Leo. Romantic feelings solidify and you might be in for some exciting adventures in the weeks to come.

VIRGO  AUG 24/SEPT 22

Virgo, the crowd around you may not be the support system you need right now. Making new friends can be tough, but it’s worthy pursuit at this point.

LIBRA  SEPT 23/OCT 23

Libra, no matter how much you want to spend time with family or friends right now, work seems to draw you away. Focus on nding more balance.

SCORPIO  OCT 24/NOV 22

You might be feeling fed up with the pace of lessons being taught to you, Scorpio. If the teacher or mentor simply isn’t e ective, then you might need to nd a new educator.

SAGITTARIUS  NOV 23/DEC 21

Sagittarius, it might seem like having the utmost control sets you up for security, but that’s not always the case. Being too controlling may push others away.

CAPRICORN  DEC 22/JAN 20

This may be an emotional week for you, Capricorn. Your relationship will have to weather a few storms before things right themselves again.

AQUARIUS  JAN 21/FEB 18

Poor habits can keep you from getting where you want to go, Aquarius. A friend or family member may need to step in to show you where you could be going wrong.

PISCES  FEB 19/MAR 20

Help a partner heal by being sensitive to his or her su ering. You may not know all the ins and outs, but being supportive can help greatly.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

MARCH 19 Neil LaBute, Director (60)

MARCH 20 Spike Lee, Director (66)

MARCH 21 Jace Norman, Actor (23)

MARCH 22 J.J. Watt, Athlete (34)

MARCH 23 Victoria Pedretti, Actress (28)

MARCH 24 Jim Parsons, Actor (50)

MARCH 25 Elton John, Singer (76)

“Over the years, that’s meant taking on roles that often fell outside her sphere as a registered nurse and certified perinatal nurse specialist to include major project management and leadership development,” the council said. “But no matter the project, Viva jumps in with both feet, inspiring others to join her.”

Swanson was recognized for a long list of accomplishments and initiatives throughout her career, including:

• providing clinical support for the design and construction of the Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa longterm care home;

• working with the North Peace Division of Family Practice to lead the implementation of a new prenatal clinic in an underutilized space in the hospital after Fort St. John lost 13 family physicians in 2013, which left prenatal

• leading the launch of drive-thru vaccination clinics as well as Northern Health’s vaccination van during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase vaccination rates for rural, remote and vulnerable people. The van travelled across the northeast reaching farming communities, farmers’ markets, First Nation communities, industry camps, highway pullouts, and businesses.

“I try every day to be the best version of myself,” Swanson told the patient council. “I’m an early adopter with a significant case of FOMO (fear of missing out)!”

“Viva’s work, and really her soul, are rooted in Fort St. John, and she looks for opportunities to benefit others and their communities,” said Peter Martin, project leader for workforce sustainability, housing, and childcare initiatives for Northern Health.

“Viva has demonstrated dogged persistence in addressing the needs of others. She combines a love of others with a creative approach that consistently searches for opportunities to forward the initiative that she is working on.”