Ethel Denman

Obituary of Ethel Kathleen Denman

On January 20th, 2025, the world became a little less bright with the sudden passing at the Prince County Hospital in Summerside, PEI of Ethel Kathleen Denman (nee Sutherland), aged 80 years young. Katie leaves behind to mourn her husband of 52 years, Wayne, her daughter Sarah (Paul Wood) and son David (Marni), sister Anne Shirley Sutherland (Lawrence Lacey), and her beloved grandchildren, Charlotte, Freddie and Michael. Welcoming her in heaven were daughter Andrea, grandson Wyatt, nephew Richard and brother John. Also deeply saddened by her passing are Katie’s extended and treasured family of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends she made along her journey.

 

Born in Charlottetown, December 3, 1944, Katie grew up on the family farm in Greenwich, PEI. From an early age, she learned from her parents, Shirley and Flora (nee Martin) the importance of hard work, education and a duty to one’s friends and neighbours. 

 

A voracious reader from the start, Katie couldn’t remember not being able to read. And even though she lived way out in the country, Katie was never lonely or bored-she found friends and adventure within the pages of Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, and The Hardy Boys. The books of L.M. Montgomery, her mother’s favourite author, were also very important in shaping her literary journey. Not only did Montgomery write brilliantly about intelligent, brave, relatable women, but she wrote so vividly about our beautiful Island - Katie, Anne, Emily, Jane, Maud - they were Kindred Spirits. 

 

Katie’s love of reading, extended into most of her school work (not math), and after graduating from Morell High School at age 16, she headed off to Prince of Wales College for two years (including a year of teacher training), before heading off to Wolfville, NS to complete a Home Economics degree at Acadia University (after a repeated battle with organic chemistry!). Many lifelong friendships were forged and remain strong from these experiences.

 

Katie had a varied professional life - from being Principal of the 3-room schoolhouse in Dunstaffanage, to teaching Home Economics at Charlottetown Rural High School and Howard S. Billings Junior High School in Montreal. Katie also took her Home Ec degree a step further and after an internship at Montreal General, became a Registered Dietician. Without being bilingual, jobs choices were limited so back to teaching she went at MacDonald Cartier High School. A move to Edmonton, Alberta, in 1974 led to substitute teaching in Home Ec at various Edmonton High Schools, as well working at the public library. And most surprisingly, Katie also worked as a family financial counsellor for Alberta Consumer and Corporate Affairs. Upon returning to PEI, Katie focused on educating new and expectant parents about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which had significant meaning following the loss of Andrea in 1977. As her family grew, she continued to impart her knowledge by teaching courses at Holland College, UPEI, and even offering cooking classes in her home. After her children were in school, Katie worked as a Dietician at Wedgewood and Somerset Manors, Stuart Memorial Hospital in Tyne Valley, and with Home Care, providing assistance to patients throughout PEI. After dedicating over 20 years to this fulfilling work, Katie transitioned into retirement with gusto, while maintaining her involvement in community care initiatives, including the ALS Society of PEI and the Alzheimer's Society. She remained committed to ensuring that the Island was a supportive community that reflected her values.

 

Katie loved Prince Edward Island and adored playing tourist with her kids, visiting family and friends, and particularly, showing off her corner of the Island to friends who hadn’t ventured much past the city limits except to go to the ferry. If there was an option for the direct route, or one with a detour down a red dirt road, the car was always dusty upon arrival.

 

This desire to see the world and take the road less travelled is one of the things that led Katie to leave her teaching position at Charlottetown Rural High School and head to Montreal in the late 60s, and it’s where she met the love of her life, Wayne, a few months later. Home sick with the mumps, Katie missed the first few days of the new school year. One of her colleagues gave her the rundown on the new teachers. There was a young guy with a goatee, blue eyes and a great smile that she thought Katie would like…and indeed she did! 

 

Married at St Peter’s Bay in June 1972, Katie and Wayne created a beautiful life together built on love, support and understanding. It saw them living in Montreal, a cross-country trip ending with a big move to Edmonton, and eventually moving to Summerside (a place the Greenwich girl had never visited!) in the winter of 1978. They shared a love of good food, good friends and great adventure, so Katie and Wayne (and sometimes the kids) travelled to many places across the United Kingdom, Europe, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, many road trips throughout Eastern Canada and New England. Usually, a Christmas ornament was bought for the tree to commemorate the adventures, and would prompt a trip down memory lane each December.

 

Katie, Kaye, Kathleen, Kate, Mum, Nannie, Aunt - by whatever name you knew her, to know her was to witness her kindness, her generosity, her intelligence and zest for life, evident in her many interests and community involvements. She was an ardent supporter of the performing arts, but used to say she wasn’t very creative. However, you only had to look at the beauty her hands crafted to know that wasn’t true. Whether through her beautiful gardens, delectable culinary creations, themed dinner or tea parties, or the generosity and wisdom she shared freely with her friends and community - Katie was an artist of kindness. 

 

This shone through in her lifelong commitment to the Girl Guides (over 70 years!), the United Church Women’s group, Phi Beta Sorority, more book clubs than we could count, and her volunteering efforts with diverse community, cultural and charitable organizations.  In every cause she touched, in every life she influenced, Katie left a lasting impression of care and compassion.

 

And so we say farewell to Katie, a woman known for her hospitality, generosity and wisdom. Her spirit, much like her beloved island, will endure in the laughter of her grandchildren, the recipes and books exchanged among friends, the memories created at family gatherings, and the many lives she touched.

 

“There be three gentle and goodlie things,

To be here,

To be together,

And to think well of one another.”  L.M. Montgomery

 

In celebration of Katie's beautiful spirit, we invite you to contribute to a community charity that holds a special meaning for you.

 

Resting at East Prince Funeral Home in Summerside

Public Visitation Thursday January 30, 1-3pm, 6-8pm

Funeral service at Trinity United Church Summerside, Friday January 31 at 1pm. Reception to follow.

 

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Ethel