KATHLEEN ANN MCLEOD

“Work is love made visible” 

– Kahlil Gibran

Our mother was a woman of grace, faith and dignity.  Deeply spiritual, she found delight and nourishment in art, nature, poetry, friendships and family. Now reunited with her beloved Charlie, husband of over 70 years, we know that she rests in peace and love. We mourn with sorrow and remember with love and devotion. 

Kathie was born at the old Grace Hospital to Gavin and Sarah Adeline Baird who had walked two blocks following a Winnipeg blizzard to meet the taxi that wouldn’t risk coming up the snowy street.  She lived most of her life in Winnipeg, attending Robert H. Smith, Grosvenor and Kelvin schools where she made life long and cherished friendships. 

She often described her time at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Home Economics, as ‘four great years’, although convocation was cancelled due to Manitoba’s great flood of 1950. Following graduation, Kathie worked for Dr. Patrick MacDonald as an early cancer researcher.  Her work included preparing an excerpt of his research that examined the effects of stress on health and the body – an interesting avenue of investigation that is still active today.

It was during her time at U of M that The Very Reverend Hugh A. McLeod began his service as the minister at Knox United Church and mum met the minister’s son Charlie for the first time; it wasn’t until a few years later when they met again that she knew he was her Beezee. They were married on 7 February 1953 and moved to Hagersville, Ontario, where daughter Angela was born in November. The young family moved back to Winnipeg, with son Gordon and daughter Martha both born in Winnipeg in the early 1960s.  It was only after a second move to Ontario, this time to Toronto in the early 1970s, that the McLeods returned to settle permanently in Winnipeg.

Kathie was a life-long member of Knox United Church and was active in the choir and with the United Church Women. Her service to her church included sharing her love of nature and art as she organized the flowers for the church for over 20 years and embroidered several stoles for the clergy and hangings for use in the sanctuary. 

Mum’s connection with Spirit was deeply personal; she said that when she’d start to prepare a new creation, she would pray to “God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or something else totally different:  Help me God. Show me how best to prepare what I want to say about life and to show people that I love them.”

She was well known for her beautiful needlework into which she incorporated natural elements like plants and shells. She studied her craft with Jo Hewitt, who, in addition to developing her proficiency at embroidery, also led Kathie to her axioms for a good life, ‘It’s not what I thought – but just leave it for awhile and see how it sits’ and ‘if something isn’t working as well as it should – try something else’.  

Mum loved cheeky limericks, summers on Mackies Island, Lake of the Woods, birds, and flowers, picking stones on the beach, and her two miniature Schnauzers, Sam and Rupert. 

She was predeceased by her dear husband Charles Alexander McLeod in April 2023, father Gavin Gibson Baird, and mother Sara Adeline Baird (née Gaskin), sister Angela (John Graham) and brother Gavin David (Lydia Shevchuk).

Kathleen is sorely missed and remembered with love by her children Angela (Wayne Rosin), Gordon, and Martha (Ian Stewart); and grandchildren David Rosin (Zhanni Weber), Aynsley Rosin (Mike McDonald) and Samuel McLeod, as well as many beloved nieces, and nephews.

Mum saw butterflies as a symbol of hope of things to come; we’ll recognize her spirit when one flutters by.

Kathleen's family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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