(nee Klassen)
We share our sadness with friends and family over the passing of Kay Harms, 82 years old, of Chilliwack. Kay (Kate, Katie) was born in Gull Lake Saskatchewan, the eldest girl in a family of 6 girls and 5 boys, and spent her youth on farms that demanded hard work and devotion to her family. The devotion came easily and naturally to Kay, who loved helping her family and barely noticed the real burdens she endured.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Art Harms, and children Carol (Brent), Joan (Colin), Gord (Sharon), Wendy (John), Greg (Alice). She was deeply loved by her grandchildren, Joe and Graeme (Gina) Abernethy, Marie (Scott) and Paul (Brittany) O’Connor, Vivianne (Brett) and Stewart (Becky) Harms, Jillian Tiessen (Dallas), Tiffany, Jeff (Sherrie), Sean Nurcombe, Adrian (Christine), Simon and Gavin Harms. Her great grandchildren brought her further joy: Willow and Evan Tiessen, Samuel Krolow and Emile Abernethy will remember their G-G as a lively great grandmother and as a source of wonderful treats.
Kay’s parents, Jacob and Margaret Klassen and sister Mary predeceased her. Her surviving siblings are: Jacob (Erma) Klassen, John (Mary) Klassen, Tony (Helen) Klassen, Cork (Shirley) Klassen, Erna (Tom) Flood, Mert (Hank) Wall, Eileen (Jim) Smyth, Art (Heather) Klassen and Frieda (Ron) Abrams, Brother-in-law John (Lois) Harms, Sisters-in-law Justine Warkentin, Lena (Peter) Klassen, Frieda (Al) Loewen and numerous nieces and nephews.
Art came into Kay’s life at the tender age of 16 and he never left her thoughts. She was smitten by the “sharp looking guy” from Vancouver in the Frank Sinatra jacket. Their married life was based initially in the wilds of a north Alberta logging camp (goodbye snazzy jacket), when Kay and Art started their family and a lifetime of great stories. They continued their successful partnership in the community of Chilliwack from the early fifties and the friendships they developed have been truly extraordinary.
All of the affection Kay held for her brothers and sisters was channelled with the arrival of her children. She was a beautiful and loving mother, full of laughter and such a positive light in all of our lives. Her heart was boundless, and her involvement with her grandchildren was a blessing to each of them, filled with generosity and an abundant energy that was unique to Kay throughout her life. Her underlying wisdom was to bring everyone together with good food, song and friendly conversation.
Kay’s memorial service will be held on Saturday November 17th at Woodlawn Mount Cheam Funeral Home in Chilliwack, at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kay’s honour to Chilliwack Hospice Society http://www.chilliwackhospice.org/donations.html or the BC Childrens Hospital Balding for Dollars (http://secure.bcchf.ca/donate/donation.cfm