Kathleen McClelland

1952 ~ 2019

Kathleen Mary McClelland was born on February 14, 1952 in Brooks, Alberta to parents, Robert and Agatha McLelland. She had Down’s Syndrome and did not attend regular school, but learned at home how to be a loving member of a family. In about the year of 1965, she started attending George P. Vanier School for Developmentally Handicapped in Medicine Hat. In 1976, she started working at the Kinsmen Training Center. She lived with several different families before moving to the Pete and Diane Vanderham family home in December of 1991. In 2015, she moved to the 13th Street Group Home operated by CORE Association for their clients with dementia. Throughout all her living years with the Vanderham’s, she attended CORE activities and was involved with volunteering in the community. Examples of her service included volunteering at senior’s lodges and the hospital. She loved doing crafts such as pottery and handiwork. She was often seen coloring with her coloring books, cutting out ads in the newspaper and rearranging her many photos. She went on many holidays both with CORE groups and with her family and the Vanderhams. She has been to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Florida, various islands of the Caribbean, and other locations in the US and Canada. She especially enjoyed cruises. Throughout her life, her friendly smile and easy going nature was cherished by all who knew her. Kathleen was predeceased by her mother in 1993 and father in 2003. She is survived by her siblings, Stuart (Sarah) McClelland of Caboolture, Australia, Jim (Mickey) McClelland of Brooks, Alberta and Joan (Duane) Speir of Calgary as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Kathleen’s life will be celebrated at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Friday, January 3, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Special thank-you’s to the Vanderham family for making Kathleen such an integral part of their family, to the staff, workers and fellow clients of CORE Association, who provided support and many opportunities for growth, and to the 13th Street Group Home, Dr. Bratvold and the staff of the hospital who cared for her, especially during the past several years of declining health. Memorial donations in Kathleen’s name may be directed to CORE Association, 412 – 3rd Street, S.E., Medicine Hat , Alberta, T1A 0H1. (Condolences may be expressed by www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is

• Date : December 24, 2019
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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