In Loving Memory of

Katie Blench

(Maiden: Bernard)
of Edmonton
Oct 3, 1915 - Jan 10, 2018

Our beloved mother, Katie Blench, passed away on January 10, 2018 at age of 102 in Edmonton. Katie had a long, active life, which she lived with a zest and enthusiasm that was, and is, an inspiration to her family and friends.

She was married three times and outlived all of her husbands. Born in Wales, raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Katie married her first husband, Tom, and moved to the Shetland Islands in her early twenties. After thirty years in Shetland, Katie and her second husband, Teddy, and youngest daughter, Michelle, emigrated to Edmonton, Alberta to join her eldest daughter, Louise, and son-in-law John.

Katie lived another 50 years of her life in Canada, during which time her second husband died suddenly in a car collision. She was a hard worker, gifted in sales and had a career selling wedding gowns, helping many blushing brides find the dress just right for them.
She went on to meet and marry her third husband, Tom, and for the following 19 years the two of them escaped the deep chill of Edmonton winters and spent three months every year in Hawaii. Here, Katie not only soaked up the sun, but also learned to do hula dancing. Katie was an accomplished and ardent ballroom dancer. She also loved dancing and performing for 15 years with the Calder Cuties. For her, dancing was a passion, something she kept up until she was 100.

Katie had great strength, resilience and a wonderful, sometimes irreverent sense of humour. She very much loved her family and was proud of the fact that she was not only a grandmother and a great-grandmother, but a great-great-grandmother too. She is survived by her five children Louise (John), Audrey (Iain), Diane (John), Charles and Michelle (Randy); 10 grandchildren Tracy (Roger), Graeme, Diane (Graham) and Iain (Lynn), Steven (Evelyn), Nicola, Melanie (Douglas), John (Brid), Jason and Callum, and 14 great-grand children Brian (Aimee) Craig, Kevin, Joanna, Andrew, Harri (Stuart), Jai, Riece, Hogan, Sarah, Scarlett, Aidan, Melanie and Chloe and four great-great grandchildren Calvin, Cobin, Ariana and Haldan as well as nieces Jacqui, Madeline, Ruth and Anita and numerous other family members and friends

We love you Mum, and now you are dancing with the angels.

Please join us on Thursday, January 18 at 2:00pm for a Memorial Service to celebrate Katie’s life at Foster & McGarvey Funeral Home 10011 - 114 Street, Edmonton.

In lieu of flowers, please give donations to SCITCS (Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society) or to the Alberta Heart & Stroke Foundation