Katherine (Kathy) Pearl Muggridge (nee Starkes)
1946 ~ 2022
After suffering with dementia, Kathy peacefully passed away at age 75 in Manitou, Manitoba. Surrounded by her family on Friday April 15, 2022, our sweet matriarch joined the angels.
She was the daughter of the late Stanley Samuel and Janet Laura (nee Welcher) Starkes and grew up in Musgravetown, Newfoundland. Kathy treasured 56 years of marriage with her beloved husband, Geoffrey Muggridge. A devoted wife and mother, Kathy raised her family in Bloomfield. She originally retired from teaching in 1993 then taught an additional five years in Northern Manitoba after that. She enjoyed cooking, baking, writing, entertaining, boating, fishing, swimming, dancing, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Cherished mother to Mike (Peggy) Muggridge, Dan (Trudy) Muggridge, Angie (Jared) Muggridge; proud grandmother to Chloe (Corey), Becca (Chris), Robyn (Spencer), Tara (Brodyn), Keane (Camella), Griff, and Andrew (Mikaylie); proud great-grandmother to Ben and William. Dear sister of Dulcie (Merl) Feltham living in Newfoundland and brother, Wayne (Rosalynn) Starkes of Calgary. She was predeceased by her sisters, Katherine Starkes (infancy death), Lizzie Starkes, Effie Dafoe, Betty Wiseman (survived by Bill), Phyllis Philpott (Harvey), Anne Hancock (Les), brother, Sterling Starkes (survived by Sharon). Sister-in-law, Dianne (Roy) Bonnell and brother-in-law, Don (Maxine) Muggridge are left to mourn. Kathy will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Eulogy
Our Mom was a loving, charismatic, outgoing angel on earth. Her heart was capable of enormous love which she displayed to those around her, family, friend, or stranger. Her family was her world, and they always felt her unwavering love. A devoted wife, mom, mother-in-law, nan, sister, aunt, daughter, teacher, and friend she consistently exuded a fierce love. Passionate and true, talented and sincere, warm and strong, beautiful and loved. This was Kathy with a “K”.
When Mom was young, she enjoyed life as the youngest girl of a family with 8 siblings. She would beam when sharing stories of a home filled with lots of love and energetic conversations, meals, and shenanigans. Her sisters and brothers were very special people to her, and she took her job of older sister to her younger brothers very seriously. Her parents, Janet, and Stanley were very proud. She would enjoy assisting her mom in midwifery tasks and community service. On the flip side, she would tag along with her dad in the woods to cut wood for the family. Mom’s early years set the stage for the years to come.
As a teenager, she was President of Student Council, wrote plays and was highly involved. This level of service continued as she not only was a member of the United Church Auxiliary, but also a Lioness member for many years. Her ability to public speak allowed for service through countless Master of Ceremony titles and speeches throughout her adult life. Her ability to express in writing meant becoming a poet. Many poems were created to celebrate her colleagues and friends at special moments along life’s path. These poems were lovingly collected and published by her soulmate Geoff. Please take your time to view these in her book “Life as I See It” on display. It makes sense that this playwright, poet and author was also a teacher.
Mom was the best teacher ever! We cannot count the number of times we have heard this! “She was the favourite”, the messages and the memories have been pouring in, which does not surprise us. One past student even boarded a boat and drove over one and a half hours to see her because he heard ‘she was out da bay’. Translation: ‘she was out on the ocean’. We were proud of her then, and still today, for making a difference in so many lives. We want her past students to know her care was real, and she truly saw you. She genuinely cared. She would stop and talk with perfect strangers just because they looked sad or lonely. Her compassion radar was high, which was a wonder to see.
This social butterfly was the light in any room which attracted us all. From telling jokes, often with her close sister Dulcie, to dancing up a storm, we couldn’t get enough. The twinkle in her eye and the warmth of her soul never dulled, and for that we are grateful. Mom showed loved in special ways. Sometimes in a wink, warm hugs, or kisses. Daily love shown through baking and cooking which was another outstanding skill of hers. She could whip up a meal or lunch quite easily even if she had little notice and few ingredients. Maybe that’s the reason she never threw out the smallest of leftovers. The Saturdays baking with Angie and the pride she felt with feeding Mike, Dan, and Geoff, made for powerful memories today. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. Each of you held a place in here heart which has ensured a guardian angel forever. That connection never ceases. Peggy, Trudy and Jared she loved you as her own.
What a woman! She spoke her mind when a situation required such strength. She soothed our hurts and enriched our lives, for that we are thankful. We have been blessed to call her ours, and even more blessed for the love we have witnessed our whole lives.
This strong, once in a lifetime love we are referring to, is the bond between Mom and Dad, there are no words to do it justice. A love like no other. From the age of 13 and 15 they found their soulmate. They did absolutely everything together by choice. She was Dad’s first mate on the ocean, his fishing buddy, hunting partner, and dance partner through life. Whether at the marina, in the pool, or at the cabin, they were completely happy hand in hand. The love showed us how wonderful love can be. The best lesson. Fair to say they took teaching to a whole new level as colleagues and as parents.
Dad, you kept your promise to Skipper and cared for his daughter Kathy, to the very end. For that we are in awe and eternally grateful. The dances you shared, the songs written and sung, touched her heart and yours. Music has been key to connecting with her even through the later years touched with dementia. Dad, you lessened her pain and were her safety net. Her eyes began and ended set on you, even dementia could not steal that connection. This love will never die.
We may have lost our Angel on earth, but we gained the ultimate Angel above.
Rest easy sweet Mama.