Kathleen Gorman Obituary

It is with broken hearts that the family of the late KATHLEEN GORMAN of Grand Bank announces her passing. Kathleen passed away at the Blue Crest Home in Grand Bank on February 26th, 2020, at the age of 78. Born in Noel, she was the daughter of the late Enslie and Margaret (Hamilton) of Noel, Nova Scotia.

Kathleen was a loving mother and, like her mother before her, enjoyed hosting large family gatherings centered around delicious meals. Her children fondly remember weekly roast pork dinners with crackling, gravy and apple sauce. As she served the oven-warmed plates, she rarely forgot to warn "Be careful, that plate is hot."

Kathleen also followed her mother’s footsteps into teaching. She was a graduate of Nova Scotia Teachers College and earned a Masters in Education at Acadia University. During her career, she taught in Digby, on Tancook Island, at Hants West Rural High School and Uniacke District School. She remained an active member of the Retired Teachers’ Organization for many years.

While her children were young she lived in and around Windsor including Garlands Crossing and Three Mile Plains. For a time she farmed in West Brooklyn where she was fond of telling her children "There’s 50 acres out there. Get out and enjoy it."

She was active in the Liberal party supporting several successful campaigns while assisting the campaign manager and providing sage advice.

In later life she moved to Bridgewater, where her daughter Jennifer followed as did her mother.

She enjoyed sewing, quilting and other needle arts. In retirement, she discovered a love for rug hooking and continued her passion for teaching in that medium. She was a true artist dying her own wool and creating her own patterns. She was especially reknowned and still remembered for her method of colour planning. Her work was sold as far afield as the United Kingdom. She was a long-standing member of the Rug Hooking Guild. She had recently organized a beautiful piece depicting the town of Grand Bank, NL where she lived the past 10 years. The 16’ x 12’ rug consists of individual squares hooked by local residents sewn together and now hangs in the town’s United Church.

She is pre-deceased by her husband, Henry Severance, daughter, Jennifer Allen-Hart and son, Charles Jeffrey. Kathleen is survived by brother, Tom Gorman (Kay), AB, daughter, Jacqueline Riley Gorman Turbitt, NS; son, Jonathan Riley, NS; Julian Riley (Holly), AB, granddaughter, Kate Gorman, NS, whom Kathleen raised after Jennifer’s death and grandchildren Shawna, Tatania, Talia, Matthew, Gerald, Bethannie, Jonathan, Justin, Stephen, Maria, James, Benjamin and Andrew and many great grandchildren and niece Jocelyn and nephew Jason.

As per Kathleen’s wishes, cremation has taken place. She was a vibrant person and it was her wish that her family would join in a celebration of life which will be held at a later date.

Donations in memory can be made to the Bridgewater United Church of Bridgewater NS, where Kathleen enjoyed a welcoming community and faithfully attended weekly Bible studies.