The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Service Held Kathleen (Kit) Hammond Cole passed away Thursday, January 20, 2005, at the age of 91 years. Kit is survived by her children; Don, Erin, Scott, Myrna (Ron) MacDonald and Judy (Dale) Zimmer; grandchildren, Cate (Ron) Simons and David MacDonald, Deb (Rick) Reid, Dan (Sandi) Cole; great grandchildren, Amy and Matthew Reid, Bradley and Christopher Cole, Caitlin and Jaclyn Simons; nieces Joan (Paul) Turner, Judy Huband, Edith Atkinson, Joyce Polson, Fern (Les) Simons, Shirley (Lawrence) Fay, Berta (Ken) Bindle, June Gillies, Ruby (Mac) Rennie, Donna (Wayne) Henschel and Marsha Highfield; nephews Harold Gray, Roy (Rika) Huband, Rob Huband, Glen Hammond, Neil Hammond and Greg Cole; sister-in-law Phoebe Cole; and her remaining family Corey (Trish) Henschel, Trevor Henschel, Darla (Jules) Arcand, Shelley (Chris) Christianson, Scott, Corine and Crystal Highfield and many other nieces and nephews on the Cole side of the family. Kit is predeceased by her parents, Edith Edna and Ernest James Hammond, and her husband Walter Cole; sisters Constance Gray and Marjorie Morris; brothers Harry and Sid Hammond; great nephew Douglas Highfield; and brother-in-law Gordon Cole. The Life and Thymes of Kit (Hammond) Cole Kathleen Mary Hammond was born on January 2, 1914 in what she liked to refer to as "a little sod shack" near Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. Youngest of five siblings born to Ernest James and Edith Edna Hammond, Kathleen was the only child of theirs born in Canada. The others were born in England. She lived in Regina for the first six years of her life. Her dad had an opportunity to purchase and operate the Laura Restaurant, to continue his culinary skills. He was a trained cook in England. All of Kit's schooling was in Laura Elementary School. She spoke fondly of her teacher Mr. McCurdy. In 1928 the Hammond clan moved west and settled in Duncan, B.C. on Vancouver Island to operate the Black Cat Cafe. Walter Cole also moved with them to the Island for employment. Kit lived in an upstairs suite in the restaurant. No small wonder she became the fabulous cook that she was, under the guidance and tutelage of her mother and father. The Roaring 20s soon ended and the accumulation of business pressures and financial woes plus an unfortunate logging accident to Walter Cole resulted in another move. Hoping to start over, Mom and Dad Hammond plus daughter Kit and friend Walter Cole moved back to Laura in 1931. This being the start of the Depression and harder times, the only work available was domestic and/or farm work. Smitten by the very handsome fella, Walter Scott Cole, she at age 19 and Walt married on March 9, 1933 in Laura, Saskatchewan. Kit and Walt were employed at a farm just north of Laura. Walt's brother Ed, working in Flin Flon, suggested that they move to Flin Flon to search for work. They had to borrow $10 for train tickets, but undaunted, they left the farm and headed north, arriving in Flin Flon in June of 1933 with one suitcase and less than $10 in their pockets. The first thing they had to do was pay taxi fare and buy two pairs of rubber boots - rainy weather, no sidewalks, and muskeg with planking for walking on. The station was a boxcar in the midst of rocks and bush at Mile 86. Kit's first reaction upon stepping off the train was: "When's the next train out of here?" Over the course of the next couple of years, they gained employment in local bush camps. Then they hired on with Hudson Bay in 1935 as cooks at Island Falls Construction Camp. In the late fall of 1935 Kit had to be flown down to Flin Flon for the birth of Don. Her flight was memorable in that she was perched upon a load of frozen fish in -20 weather and thought she was frozen, herself, when she was taxied to town. She told us she stood over a heat register for a long time trying to warm up. The following spring, Walter Cole moved his young family to the flux line. They lived in a tent/log cabin for five years. Two more babies were born at this time: Erin (Elsie) in 1938 and Robert Scott in 1939. Because of the hardship of raising three young children, the youngest being a colicky baby, and having a work away husband, Kit wanted to move to Flin Flon. They shared a Bellevue Street residence with Maria and Louis Doll. Then in 1941 when Myrna was born, they needed a larger home and moved down the street to where Kit resided for over 60 years. Kit became active in family and community activities. Along with a lot of other young mothers, she enjoyed picnics and swimming at Phantom Lake, during the summer. Mothers would push their baby carriages all the way to Phantom Lake with toddlers in tow. During the winter they pushed or pulled sleds. Kit was busy raising her children, helping with school activities and encouraging piano lessons. With the arrival of cars and better roads, during the mid to late 1940s, family fun included boating, fishing and camping at numerous lakes in the area. It was a happy time. Kit became involved in the United Church and enjoyed participating in choir activities. She also looked after the choir gown collars. With the birth of Judy in 1952, Kit's parenthood was extended and included more school functions, music lessons, recitals, festivals, choirs, and Glee Club productions. The family home was a hub of activity with tenants and boarders, teenage children and a baby. Kit was a homemaker in every sense of the word. She canned preserves of B.C. apricots, peaches, pears, and locally hand picked blueberries and cranberries. She was also busy with packing lunches for picnics, camping and fishing trips and Walt's work lunch. Walt's work bucket lunches were deemed, in his words, as being as good as any meal at home. Kit's old Singer sewing machine was in constant use. Her knitting needles were always busy with socks, mitts, and scarves. She was a member of the Knit One, Rip One Sewing Circle with many dear friends in the '40s and '50s. An important part of family life in Kit and Walt's home was an appreciation of music. Attending music festivals for thriving young musicians was an annual event producing four piano players, a guitarist and a vocalist. Kit also played the piano at home. Her children enjoyed house parties as they listened to sing-alongs after being sent off to bed. Kit continued to enjoy the Flin Flon Glee Club and she and her family enjoyed her roles and participation in their wonderful productions at the Community Hall. Kit and Walt encouraged the reading of books and magazines and our set of "Books of Knowledge" was well used. Visiting relatives - on farms, in towns and cities by train or by car was a large part of their kids' growing years. Christmas and New Year's celebrations were especially fun for family and friends who dropped in at all hours of the evening for some of Kit's fabulous cooking and there was always a place at the table for one more. There was never a time when there wasn't a pet of one kind or another - a dog, a cat, fish, turtles, a parakeet and even pigeons in a cage outside a window. In the early '60s two of their children were married and four grandchildren were brought into Kit's life. Myrna married Ron MacDonald, and Cathy and David were born. Scott married Betty Adams, and Debbie and Dan were born. In the mid '60s Dad approached retirement and Kit and Walt spent time travelling and visiting family. After Walt's retirement, more time was spent at the cottage at Big Island. Fun times included boating, skiing, fishing, development of a garden and entertaining family and friends. In 1974, Judy married Dale Zimmer. They became a big part of Walt and Kit's lives for many years. At this time the great grandchildren arrived. Catherine and Ron Simons had two children, Caitlin and Jaclyn. Debbie and Rick Reid had Matthew and Amy. Sandi and Danny Cole had twins, Christopher and Bradley. After the loss of Walter in 1992, Kit developed a closer bond with friends and strengthened ties with family members. Mom - Gone from our sight, but never our memories. Gone from our touch, but never our hearts. We'll - "Love You Forever" Funeral services for Kathleen were held Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. from the Chapel of Dadson Funeral Home with Reverend Janis Campbell officiating. Arlene Milton was the organist. Greg Cole and Trevor Henschel were the ushers. Kit's Rays of Sunshine were Bessie Ellstrom, Georgina Peake, Ellen Ballard, Nayda and Jake Maximchuk, Brenna Atkinson, Danny McLean, Anne and Billy Elliott, Karen and George Komanec, Jeannie and Doug Dubray, and Joan Turner. Following the private graveside service and interment at East Hillside Cemetery, a buffet lunch was held at the Victoria Inn. Special thanks to Dr. Amin, and Kit's Rays of Sunshine throughout the years. We are grateful to friends and relatives for food trays, flowers, cards and donations made to the Northminster Memorial Church or a charity of one's choice. Kit Cole's Family
