September 26, 1931 - November 21, 2018
Catherine Winnifred Williams (nee Cox), passed away peacefully in her home in Hope, BC on November 21, 2019. Born in Chilliwack BC September 26, 1931 to Everett and Mildred Cox, Catherine was known as Cathy to her friends, mom to her beloved children, Nanny to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and Aunty Cathy to her nieces and nephews.
Cathy is predeceased by her younger sister, Evelyn Anne Boyd (Cox), whom she loved dearly. The sisters grew up in Yale, BC before moving to Hope where as a young teenager Cathy became Hope's very first telephone operator. At age 18 she moved to Vancouver where she continued to work as an operator.
In 1951 Catherine met and married Joseph Robinson and they went on to have six children together. Joe joined the Royal Canadian Airforce which took the young couple across Canada including Montreal, Rivers Manitoba, Edmonton, Vernon and finally settling in Kelowna BC in 1967. It was here that Cathy later married her second husband Ted Williams and eventually they moved back to Hope in 2006 where she resided till her passing.
Cathy is renowned for her love of large family dinners, get-togethers and reunions. Christmas was a very special holiday for her as she so loved the joy of giving. Despite having a family that had grown to nearly 60, she rarely, if ever, missed anyone's birthday and could be counted on to be the first to wish a happy birthday. Her love of animals was also remarkable and is a loving-trait she's passed on for many of us.
She had a strong sense of community service and was instrumental in the success of the Rutland Citizen's Patrol in Kelowna. She served with the Legion ladies' auxiliary and Eagles, as well as volunteering to help promote and organize the Hope Brigade Days for many years.
Catherine is survived by her six kids, Joann, Diane (Geoff), Rick (Kim), Gary (Olga), Sue (Mike) and Randy (Victoria), 18 grandchildren, and 35 great-grandchildren (and growing!). Her strong bond with her sister also led to a special love between Aunty Cathy and her nieces and nephews, Leonard (Marg), Cliff (Jan), Carol (Oscar), Sandi, Joe (Lonnie), and Wayne (Mandy).
The family will be holding a small private celebration-of-life in the spring of 2019.
In lieu of flowers, Cathy has left us with the following request: "If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you."