Kathleen Paterson-Smith (nee Harman) 1959 ~ 2024

With birds welcoming the birth of a new day, Kathleen Elizabeth Paterson-Smith (Kate, Meow Meow, Kitty), age 64, passed suddenly but peacefully on May 19th. She was born July 5, 1959, to John and Joanne Harman and grew up in Guildwood Village. She married her first husband, James Donald Paterson, on August 8th, 1981. She later married her sweetheart, Michael Norman Smith, on October 21st, 2006. Kathleen’s love created an opening for both men to be cherished parents to her children.

As anyone who came across her path knows, Kathleen is an everlasting wave of love, acceptance, and playfulness. Her purpose in life was to nurture, support, and care. Her love of gardening, dedication to building pollinator gardens, and passion for growing the Monarch butterfly population led her to release over 1,000 Monarchs over the years. Kathleen’s real joy came from being part of the fabric of her children's and grandchildren's lives. For anyone reading this lucky enough to have a mother, please call her and tell her you love her.

Kathleen will be remembered for many things, but what stands out to her family is her silly playfulness at the cottage, her commitment to family, her love of creating, and her willingness to be selfless for the sake of togetherness.

“You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer.” ~ Nhat Hanh. As a living embodiment of the Great Mother, we take solace in Kathleen returning back to her source, with us always and in everything.

Kathleen leaves behind a legacy of love and family. She is survived by her husband, Michael Smith, and ex-husband, James Paterson; her child and her husband, Jennifer and Colin Lindsay; her child and his wife, Kyle and Melissa Paterson; her step-children, Jennifer (Steve) Fancey, Ian, and Shanna Smith; her grandchildren, Bodhi and Piper Lindsay and Sequoia Paterson and Brantley and Emerie Fancy and Kyah Smith; her sister and husband, Maureen and Paul Leslie; her brother and wife, Mark and Sandie Harman; and her sister and husband, Carla Hall and Paul Winkelstein; and her dear cousin, Cathy Hamilton. There are many more Kathleen held in her heart; we hope you will forever hold her in yours.

Please join us in celebrating her life on Saturday, June 15th, between 10:00 am and 12 noon (formal time at 11:00 am) in the backyard of 269 Union Avenue, Prince Albert, Ontario. 289-987-6259.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider contributing to memorializing Kathleen at the Oak Ridges Hospice. Kathleen had just started volunteering at the Hospice, and her vision to make an impact was taken much too soon. Together, let’s follow through on her vision.