It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the death of Kath, Kathy, Kathleen Boyle Hatcher, Devoted Mother, Magnificent Friend, Generous Soul, Brilliant Writer, Caring Teacher, Remarkable Quilter, Compassionate Listener, Constant Reader, Thrift Store Aficionado, Lover of all things Irish and, her most recent and most beloved role, Grandmother to Seamus.

Kathleen was born and raised in the Bronx, New York along with her two brothers John and David. She went on to study at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. She wrote for the campus literary magazine and developed a following as host of a weekly late night music program on WSOU, the campus radio station. Her university friendships were many and varied and she maintained them over time and distance with generosity and affection.

She raised her three children, Laura, Colin and Terence in Toronto and leaves behind people who loved her in both hemispheres, three countries, and many languages.

Kathleen was a respected member of the Toronto District School Board’s adult literacy program for over 20 years, where she provided thoughtful guidance and encouragement to people from around the world embarking on their learning journeys. She valued each person she worked with, never failing to see their potential and rejoicing in their successes. Kathleen loved sharing their stories of courage and resilience with us.

As a quilter, she demonstrated over and over that the scrappiest piece of fabric, if given a second glance, another chance, placed just so and handled with care not only fit in but brought its own beauty to her work and to our world. She helped us see beauty and colour in places, people and things we could easily walk by. And she loved to laugh. And said and wrote the funniest things.

She saw the best in us and because of that we were better people when with her. Now we must try to be better people without her.

A service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LOFT Community Services (https://www.loftcs.org) or Romero House (https://romerohouse.org).



Beannacht / A Blessing
By John O’Donohue

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets into you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue,
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.