Katherine Geneviève Stannard beloved daughter of Mavis Lousie Stannard [née Gillott] and Barry Anthony Stannard passed away suddenly on 4 April 2025 at the age of 50. Kate was predeceased by her grandparents: Anthony Dick Stannard and Joyce Kathleen Stannard [née Edwards] also Lawrence Gilbert James Gillott and Mina Gillott [née Scantlebury]. She is survived by her brother Anthony Lawrence Stannard, sister-in-law Nanda Stannard [née Jha] and nieces Joyce Maheshwari Stannard and Vidya Mavis Stannard. She is also survived by her Aunt Lois Margaret Ross [née Gillott].

While stationed at Canadian Forces Base [CFB] Trenton, Ontario, Barry and Mavis’ first child, our darling daughter Kate was born 01 February 1975. That summer we all transferred to CFB Winnipeg starting her career as a military brat [an affectionate appellation].

By Christmas that year it was clear that Kate’s disability was much greater than just a cleft palate. She liked to roll to get really close to very loud speakers. Surgery to place tubes in her ears helped greatly. Anthony Lawrence Stannard, her brother, was born in Winnipeg in 1976.

Her family moved back to CFB Trenton in 1981 when Kate was 6. Here she started school and learned to ride a two-wheeled bike – a great accomplishment that gave Kate a great deal of freedom and her parents a great deal of worry. It was here that she was given her first Care Bear and began her love affair with them. It was here that Kate directly experienced the tragedy that comes in military families, and it affected her greatly. Playing with the kids next door regularly, suddenly their father did not return from an away trip.

Not-with-standing, everywhere she went she made friends. Throughout all these years Kate loved her trips to visit her grandparents, Gillott’s in Penticton, BC and Stannard’s in Lethbridge, AB. In Penticton she loved the beach and floating down the canal. In Lethbridge her main activity was to go to Many Glacier in Montana for camping, fishing, and hiking – she just loved these activities with her family and grandparents.

Moving to CFB Edmonton in 1985 at aged 10 brought her closest to all her grandparents. With Barry flying again, Kate struggled to get any sleep while he was away. The lack of sleep affected all. It was during this time that babysitters learned that silence was not a good signal. Parents’ waterbed punctured with a sharp pencil and her mom’s clothes ventilated with a pair of scissors – all scissors to the lockup.

Moving back to CFB Winnipeg in 1991 at aged 16, Kate continued her schooling eventually graduating from Vincent Massey High School. Her time there was the best years of her schooling concentrating on life skills.

On Barry’s military retirement, Kate, aged 24, and family moved to Lethbridge in 1999. Here Kate spent the remaining years of her life. These 26 years were the best years of Kate’s life.

On arrival, staff from PDD helped us enormously and did so throughout Kate’s remaining years. Until the spring of 2006 Kate was part of the LFS DaCapo program. From April 2006 on, Kate was part of PDD Family Managed Support [FMS] with Barry and Mavis coordinating all necessary supports and responding directly to PDD. FMS was the best program ever for Kate.

Throughout most of Kate’s life, when asked what she wanted to do she would say shopping and eating out. Kate acquired many stuffies, mostly Care Bears which she enthusiastically adored.

Bike riding was one of Kate’s grand passions. Having learned to ride at an early age she continued to ride for many years. Using a small fleet of bicycles in her bike garage she invited others to join in often riding from her home in Mountain Heights to McDonalds near Safeway and return. Her stamina for bike riding was significant and challenging for some staff.

For several years Kate liked to ride the horses at Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association [LTRA]. Later, when unable to ride, she would go and feed carrots to the horses.

Kate loved her trips with family and staff to Many Glacier. She never quite mastered the ability to cast a fishing rod but she did learn to reel in fish which she did many times especially at Red Rock Lake. Kate like to meet other campers especially if they had a friendly dog that she could pet. Kate even went camping with Girl Guides in Montana with just her staff giving her parents a very nice break.

Kate liked to go to the Calgary for shopping. She like less her medical appointments there. Mavis always ensured Kate got to go to the Calgary Zoo. She liked that.

For may years Kate was able to actively participate at the West Wind Gymnastics Club. This contributed to maintaining her body condition and having some fun too.

Due to the unpredictability of her health and sleep patterns, Kate was never really able to work or even volunteer much. She did volunteer to help face shelves for Super Sam’s. Kate volunteered with staff for 2009 Scotties Tournament of Roses held in Lethbridge.

As a reward for being good while mom was in Kiev in 2010, Mavis, Kate and staff flew to Disney World in Florida. Kate was terrified by the flight [white knuckles all the way] Calgary Direct to Orlando but she absolutely loved being at Disney World. She especially enjoyed the Animal Kingdom Lodge with wild animals grazing outside the room’s balcony.

After 2018 Kate’s health and abilities started to decline consistently until she had little interest in anything but her Care Bears. Her staff looked after her very well ensuring all her needs were met in every way they could.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, AT MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4 STREET SOUTH, LETHBRIDGE, Alberta.

In honouring the family’s wishes, there will be a private interment at a later date.

Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to STARS Alberta. https://stars.ca/

Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to STARS Alberta. https://stars.ca/

The family wishes to thank:

All her many care staff

PDD South staff

Inclusion Lethbridge

Staff of Bigelow Fowler Clinics

Dr Ron Garnett

Dr Stephen Crawford

Dr Alberto Palma

All the staff at Shopper’s Drug Mart on Columbia.

Mr Bruce Stewart – Physiotherapist

Staff of West Wind Gym

Leisters Home Care

Dr Bly and the Staff at AHS Wound Clinic

Various Departments of CRH