It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Katherine Anne Beauchesne (Klodnicki), known to friends and family as Katie or Kate. Katie was a proud wife to her husband David Klodnicki, and devoted mother to Olivia and Coco (their English bull dog); connected sister to Chrissy (Dave), Lou, and Bucky, and sister-in-law to James (Renee) and Jill (Nic); dear daughter to Margaret Rocheleau and Gary Beauchesne, and to Linda and Hank Klodnicki; proud Aunt Kate to Summer, Max, Jacob, Chloe, Nick, Isabella, Amelia, Nadia, Jacques, Yanik, Lennon, and Layka. Kate was a cherished friend and was kind and loving to her official family and her many friend-families. Katie courageously fought melanoma cancer and a cascade of cancer-related issues until the very end, yielding only when her energy and fight were exhausted, and was constantly surrounded by her family and friends. She is now free from the physical pains which framed her final years.

Born on October 19, 1976, Katie was a funny, vibrant soul with a passion for her family, for English bull dogs, the Toronto Blues Jays, handcrafting, and she passionately and constantly advocated for students with ability challenges. She was born in Mississauga and raised in Mississauga, Burlington, Tillsonburg and Stratfordville. She moved to Toronto to attend College at George Brown. She was a dedicated CYW (Child and Youth Worker) for many years, a committed and supportive 1-to-1 Educational Assistant for students with special needs (Danforth Gardens PS), and then transitioned to clerical support as a secondary school Office Assistant for the Toronto District School Board (SATEC-WA Porter Collegiate Institute). Kate was known for her remarkable work ethic, creativity, knowledge and capacity for supporting students with multiple challenges, and unwavering commitment to all colleagues and stakeholders with whom she worked. She was also known for her dedication to curricular needs and co-curricular festivities, her well-placed wit and sarcasm (she did not suffer foolishness easily), strong moral and ethical compass, resiliency and stamina during difficult times, and her commitment to improvement through learning with her students and her colleagues.

Kate had many talents and passions beyond her work-life. A gifted and artistic crafter, she poured her heart into creating beautiful pieces that brought joy to her family and friends. She was the first person to offer to make you a t-shirt to celebrate an occasion, to highlight a community organization, bring attention to a charity fundraising event, or to bring forward messages of unity and positivity for all communities celebrating their lived realities. Her t-shirts were worn by many, and the designs of her crafts were funny, unique, and inspiring.

An avid Toronto Blue Jays fan, Katie celebrated every game with infectious enthusiasm, sharing her love for the current iteration of the team (as well as her honest opinion of player and managers decisions – Kate did not hold back when criticism of a bone-headed decision needed to be called out). She knew all the statistics, was well informed about insider player and management information, and often coordinated visits to the ballpark with family and friends. She was a current and consistently present member of the Blue Jays Fan Club on Face Book and she often found joy in gathering and discussing Blue Jays events with others.

Kate was a dedicated Cheer Mom and fiercely supported her daughter Olivia in pursuing all her cheer activities. Whether it was attending cheer leading practices, supporting the cheer team with crafts and fund raising, cheering loudly on her own during performances, or lending help and support with various events, Katie was fully present in every moment, even from afar.

Kate was also a vocal advocate and truth teller for Melanoma awareness. She dedicated her last few years to raising melanoma awareness, inspiring countless others to prioritize their health and seek early detection.

Kate produced lasting memories through family activities, from crafting, baking and cooking, to weekend adventures and trips that strengthened their bond. Her unwavering support and love has provided a solid foundation for Olivia to thrive. Kate made sure that Olivia visited and interacted with family regularly to know and appreciate all her aunts/uncles/cousins, as family connections were paramount and familial love was of supreme importance. Kate kept everyone “on track” by coordinating multiple birthdays and celebrations (particularly to unique and memorable restaurants), and fully embraced the Disney vacation lifestyle, visiting Disneyland (California), Disney World (Florida), and Shanghai Disneyland where Katie was lucky enough to catch feature performances of everyone’s favourite dancer, Summer! She stood by David through triumphs and trials, encouraging him in his career and activities, celebrating his achievements and victories over his own cancer challenges, and offering a discerning listening ear during these many challenging times. Together, they have navigated the ups and downs of melanoma as a true team.

Kate is survived by her loving family and a caring circle of friends who were equivalent to family, all of whom will forever hold her memory close. She is and will continue to be deeply missed.

A celebration of Kate’s life will be held on Sunday, July 28th, 2024, with visitation from 1:00 – 3:00 pm and speeches starting at 3:00 pm, at Pine Hill Cemetery and Funeral Centre, Scarborough Ontario. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the English Bulldog Rescue of Ontario, the Save Your Skin Foundation, and to Princess Margaret Hospital, in memory of Kate Beauchesne.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats…so you know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelou