Katherine Ann (Kitty) Maxwell passed away peacefully on December 29, 2023.
She was born in Detroit to parents Frank and Clare Bacholzky and had 7 siblings (Frank, Barbara Jean, Bob, Donna, Richard, Patty, VG). Kitty was married to Wally for 64 years during which they had 5 children (David/(Mary), Clare Ann, Tim/(Karen), Rob/(Cathy), Brad/(Kristin), 8 grandchildren (Allison, Kimberly, Kelsey, Kolin, Taylor, Alex, Siena, Kylie) and one great grandchild (Helen).
Kitty was raised by her grandparents on their farm in Allenton, Michigan after the early death of her mother. The farm was always Kitty’s special place and she recalled fond and loving stories of her grandparents up until her passing. During her final months, when she would eat very little, Wally could always persuade her into drinking “apple juice from the apples on her Grandpa’s farm”.
After graduating salutatorian of her high school class, Kitty moved to Ann Arbor where she attended the University of Michigan and went on to work at Michigan Bell. It was in Ann Arbor that she met a number of lifelong friends and married Wally. In their first 6 years of marriage, Kitty and Wally lived in 6 different cities and had their 5 children. Their 2nd eldest child, Clare Ann, passed away at the age of 3 months, yet her impact was always remembered and fondly recalled. They settled in the suburbs of Toronto in 1966 where they raised their 4 boys and where Kitty was very active in the community and municipal politics, including being a girl scout leader and a founding member of the Thornhill Community Center board.
Raising four boys and running the house was a true labor of love for Kitty. In addition to her own kids, she was a “mom” to many of their friends. She was the mom that drove all of her boys and their friends to their weekly hockey and baseball practices, was volunteer librarian at their elementary school and was the saving grace on so many homework assignments. At 4’ 11” (although she always rounded up to 5’), she was the rock of the house and punched well above her weight. When discipline was needed (on far too many occasions), it was doled out fairly and always followed by affection and loving hugs. At church, she would stand between the two boys that were misbehaving the most while never letting the two others get beyond arms reach. Later, as her sons went through their mischievous years, she was always the first to stand front and center in support of them.
Kitty was undoubtedly the unsung hero of Suede Master, their family business. She was a true partner to Wally in all aspects of the business while running the office, maintaining the books and leading all customer service activities. She was fair but tough and customers quickly learned to only try pulling something over on her once. But that was only her day job, as at the end of each day, she would rush home to prepare dinner for the family.
Retirement was full of family and lots of friends as they split their time between Toronto and Hilton Head. Kitty loved her daughter-in-laws like her own and was thankful that all of her sons “married up.” Grandchildren were the icing on the cake and, despite being spread across North America, Kitty and Wally found a way to see everyone regularly and haven’t missed any of their grandchildrens’ milestone events.
Kitty’s memory started to slip and dementia settled in about 3 years ago. The disease was likely much harder on such a proud and accomplished woman than anyone knew. Throughout this period, Kitty was cared for by Wally. He is a role model to the many that witnessed what unconditional love is all about.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Canadian Cancer Society in honor of Kitty and in memory of Alex.