Obituary of Kathleen Bridget Dixon

DIXON: Kathleen (Kay) Bridget (née Monaghan) left us on the morning of October 2nd, 2012 to join Dad (Jim) in heaven. Kay was born on September 25th, 1931 in Vermillion, AB to Francis and Rose Monaghan. She was the fourth of ten children living on a farm near Clandonald, AB. This was a busy time for the family, which had emigrated from Ireland in 1926. She attended the local convent and public schools riding in on a buggy or sled with her brothers and sisters. She would return to the farm several times over the years when Dad was away on course for extended periods. She moved to Edmonton in 1951 where she completed business courses and worked as an office worker and comptometer operator. Here she made great life long friendships with her roommates including Leona and Rose. In 1956 she married James Alfred Dixon (Jim) in Edmonton, whom she met while on an outing with her friends to Fort Saskatchewan. They moved to Calgary and Vancouver where in 1959 the first of three sons, Bob was born. Dad subsequently joined the airforce and we moved to Rivers, MB where Pat was born in 1962. She spent a year on the family farm with her boys whilst dad was away on a training course. It was an interesting experience with two young boys, her father and three brothers on the farm. Fortunately visits from family and friends gave her a bit of girl time. Back in Rivers, Bill was born in 1968. She lived on the base making many good friendships with the other young families. In 1970 the family moved to Brandon where mom returned to work. She worked in the offices of Modern Dairies, Scott National and Burns meats. She once again was on her own looking after three growing boys, while Dad was posted to a remote Radar station for a year. She became an expert renovator, cleaning and painting several rental houses with the "help" of her boys. In 1972 she moved to 450-4th Street which had several apartments including one with three BMHC out patient borders for whom she cooked and cleaned. In 1977 she moved out to the little house on the prairie north of Brandon, living in the basement for two years until the rest of the house was finished. Dad died on December 25th, 1987 and she lived on the farm with her youngest son until she retired in 1991 and moved to 141 Park Street, Brandon. An active CWL member for many years mom also volunteered at the YMCA Thrift Store and Nearly New. She was an avid walker and took up lawn bowls, making many new friends along the way. She also did a bit of traveling across Canada, the US and made two trips to Australia to visit her son. Always an active person she started to slow down due to problems with her leg and back, so she sold her house and moved to the Lions Manor in 2008. She lived there until June this year when ill health forced her into BRHC and the Assiniboine Centre, where she passed away on the morning of October 2nd, 2012. Kay leaves behind; sisters Jean and Margaret, sister-in-law Joyce, brother Jim, her sons Bob, Pat and Bill, their wives Janet, Beverly and Helen, grandchildren Andrew, Mitchell, Torie, Kelsey, Wilson, Riley and Emily. She was predeceased by her husband Jim, sister Mary, and brothers John, Jerry, Francis, Charlie and Eugene. Her faith was always a big part of her life, providing strength and comfort in trying times. Kay's funeral service was held on Saturday, October 6th at St. Augustine's of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church and she is buried at the Rapid City Cemetery. Thank you in particular to the staff at the Assiniboine Centre who looked after her so well in her final months. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Nearly New Shop, 601-9th St., Brandon, MB, R7A 4B3.