It is with heavy hearts that we announce the recent passing of our Mother Catherine (Katie) Dumas/Spence/Mailman. After a lengthy illness our dear mother lost her battle with cancer. Mom passed away peacefully with family by her side on December 12, 2015 at 2:15 a.m. at the Ste. Rose du Lac Hospital in Manitoba.
Katie was born on July 14,1935 in Toutes-Aides, Manitoba to parents Daniel and Rita (Dame) Dumas. Mom was the third child of eight and one of four daughters. Catherine was first married to our Father Harvey John Spence on June 8,1953 at Spence Lake Manitoba. They came west on their honeymoon making their home in Port Alberni, B.C. where they raised their family of five children: Diane, Mark, Jeannie, Dan and Jason. Mom and Dad were together for 26 years and in those years formed many life-long friendships with others from the prairies such as the Hardisty, Jefferey and Hilmo families. I found out later that my mother was related to Donald Hardisty and my father was related to Bob Jefferey. In 1979 Katie met our step-father Lloyd Mailman. They worked side by side for many years raising cattle on the Rafter T-Bar ranch in Reykjavik (The Bluff) near Eddystone Manitoba and later retired to Ste. Rose. They were married on January 31, 2006.
Katie was pre-deceased by her Father Dan Dumas Oct. 23,1992 and her Mother Rita on May 5, 1991 also her brother Mike, eldest sister Olive Kindzerski, her son Mark Owen Spence, and her husband Lloyd Mailman. Catherine is survived by her eldest daughter Diane (Myles)Walsh; Jeannie Spence; Dan (Colleen)Spence; and Jason (Jimmy) Spence. She is also survived by her sister Rita Robbins in Ontario, brothers Dan and Joe in Manitoba and sister Adrienne Payne in Victoria.
Mom had 8 grandchildren: Ceilidh (Alex)Walsh/Balzer; Christina(Jim)Proteau; Vanessa(Eric)Gagnon; Hailey(Alannah); Brendan; Zachary(Kady)Yarema; Meghan and Angela Spence. Mom had 6 grea-grandchilden: Alexis, Xela, Aria, Zaiden, Jameson and Karmyn; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Port Alberni, Ucluelet, William’s Lake and elsewhere in B.C. ,Manitoba and Ontario.
Mom worked very hard all of her life. She did her best in raising her children to be kind, respectful, strong individuals no matter what life tossed our way. Our Mother enjoyed gardening and took great pride in the upkeep of her yard. She enjoyed reading, knitting, embroidery and later on took up woodwork - building fish boxes, walking sticks and canes, decorating them with painted and woodburned images from her childhood. She was very talented. Her cooking and baking skills will be missed but her recipes will be passed down to the next generation like homemade noodles, baked bread, turkey dressing, potato salad and Marks’ favourite, black cake with fudge icing.
We are grateful to the Spence, Sabiston and Mailman families for all their love and support . They stepped in and helped our Mother over the years when we couldn’t be there ourselves. A very special thank you to Doctor O’Hagen and the palliative nursing staff at the Ste. Rose du Lac hospital for providing loving care and dignity towards our Mother and to manage her pain making her as comfortable as possible during her final days.
Our mother Katie will be sadly missed but remembered always by all who knew and loved her. Mother was cremated. Her ashes along with Lloyd’s and pet dog Max will be spread at the Home Ranch. There will be no service by request.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cancer and or Alzhiemer’s Societies.