1949 -2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kathleen Soltys on May 8th, 2023, after a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
She is survived by her husband, Ted; sons, Stephen (special friend Thelma), and Edward; siblings, Aileen, and Stan (Lynne); nephews, Peter (Sara), and Chris (Serene); as well as several other loving family members.
Kathleen graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in her hometown of Victoria. Her first post graduate job was out of Prince George transferring critically ill patients to Vancouver. She briefly performed general and flight nursing duties for the Pueblo Mission in Libera. She returned to Canada to study advanced nursing, and eventually landed in Fort McMurray to serve with the Air Medivac team. This first response unit served 50,000 square miles in Northeast Alberta, providing all forms of medical care and transportation for people in remote locations. After meeting Ted there, they moved to Three Hills and soon Steve and Ed were added to the family. Her career changed from emergency nursing to public health, specializing in baby care, pre-natal classes, and immunizations. Her strong ethics and sharp mind landed her as manager of the clinic. She continued her education by correspondence, completing her Bachelor of Nursing in 1993.
With Ted’s transfer to St. Albert, Kathleen transferred to the Birth Control Center, and volunteered for the SART team, eventually becoming manager of both. Shifting her career to manager of the AHS immunization program, she became responsible for the annual influenza immunizations. She was responsible for the immunizations for the H1N1 epidemic response, while continuing to oversee the SART program. Her studies continued, and she completed her Masters in Health Sciences degree and Nurse Practitioner designation in 2001.
Family was always her great passion. Travelling all over with husband and sons, providing sports opportunities for her sons, and returning to Victoria to visit relatives and go fishing - she would do anything if there was family. To spend time with her family, a lake lot near Athabasca was acquired. Kathleen and Ted spent their time developing it into a second home and getaway. The time there was spent enjoying friends, fishing, and snowmobiling.
Retirement brought on a wave of travel all around the world. She would be gone for several weeks or months at a time sailing around the world. Kathleen’s last journey was a river cruise from Romania to Amsterdam.
The family would like to thank Dr. S. MacIver, Dr. Bennet, and staff of Unit 28 Sturgeon Community Hospital, and Dr. Huot, Dr. Robertson, Dr. Gutteridge, Intern Ryan, and staff of Unit 43 of the Grey Nuns Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice, the Friends of the Arden Theatre Society, 5 St. Anne Street, St. Albert, AB, or the Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2.
Celebration of Life Service to be held at St. Albert Funeral Home, 9 Muir Drive, St. Albert, on June 10th, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
Mom will be sorely missed.
To send condolences, please visit www.connelly-mckinley.com.
Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home
Downtown Chapel
(780) 422-2222
