Katherine Fischer

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Katherine Fischer announce her passing on Tuesday, February 13th, 2018 at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital, at the age of 86 years.  She is reunited with Dad, who passed away only last year.  Kathy was born in Kelstern, SK, on Friday, August 14th, 1931 to Steve and Ludwina Zbadynski.  She was the eldest of their three children and assumed many responsibilities early.  She was learning English in school and teaching her parents to speak and write in English.  It seems it was her destiny that she became a teacher.  When the family moved to Moose Jaw, Kathy attended King Edward Elementary School and Central Collegiate High School.  She took her training to become a teacher at Normal School, where she played mandolin in the school orchestra.  Her first teaching job was in Bayard, south of Moose Jaw.  She embraced the challenges of living in the country and gained the respect of the community.  The following year, she took a position in Dunkirk, SK.  During her second year, while coming home to Moose Jaw, she met a handsome young man on the train.  That man was John Fischer and that began a romance that lasted over 63 years!  John and Kathy were married in Moose Jaw in 1953 at the Church of Our Lady.  They raised three daughters in the house that they built at 1059 Coteau Street.  Kathy and John had many friends and hobbies.  They worked hard gardening and canning.  Kathy was a great cook and she liked to feed people (and their dogs).  She enjoyed reading ANYTHING, fiction and non-fiction.  She enjoyed the challenge of a big crossword puzzle and liked to involve the family as she would read aloud the clues.  She also used to knit and crochet.  Kathy was active in various organizations including the Westmount Home and School, the CWL, Church of Our Lady Parish Council, the Moose Jaw Horticultural Society, T.O.P.S, and the New Democratic Party.  She did all of this while teaching full-time, at a time when many women didn’t work outside the home.  Kathy’s teaching career spanned 30 years, teaching a wide variety of subjects and grades.  Kathy’s family, friends and former students will forever treasure her memory.  She was predeceased by her husband, John; infant son, Randy; son-in-law, Paul Toupin; her parents; and sister, Stella McKenzie.  Kathy is survived by her three daughters: Joan (Kelly) Popoff, Julie (Alan) Thiessen, and Denise Toupin; eight grandchildren: Orin (Sara), Chloe (Greg), Rory (Ashley), Tashia, Joel, Anita (Codey), Mitch (Alex), and Kaitlin; her six great-grandchildren; brother, John Stevens; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 21st, 2018 at 11:00 am in Church of Our Lady, 566 Vaughan St, Moose Jaw, SK.  Interment will take place at Rosedale Cemetery.  A Prayer Service will be held on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 at 7:00 pm in Moose Jaw Funeral Home.  Flowers are gratefully declined.  As an expression of sympathy, donations in Kathy’s name may be made to The Canadian Diabetes Association, 917A Albert St, Regina, SK S4R 2P6 or to the Church of Our Lady Building Fund, 566 Vaughn St, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 6L3.  Thank you to the wonderful caregivers at West Park Crossing, the Maguire Centre and the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550