elevated u6YfV November 11, 1925 ~ January 5, 2026

elevated u6YfV Visitation
Monday, January 12, 2026 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

elevated u6YfV Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6

elevated u6YfV Funeral Mass – Chapel of St. Joseph (within the Funeral Home)
Monday, January 12, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

elevated u6YfV  To watch Mass live

elevated u6YfV Interment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7

elevated u6YfV Obituary 

elevated u6YfV Kathleen Mary Lavin (née Henson) died peacefully at home on January 5, 2026 in her 101st year. She was born on November 11, 1925, twenty-five years after her mother and twenty-five years before the birth of her first daughter. She was able to remain in the same house in North York for more than 60 years because she was an independent-minded woman—a Yorkshirewoman. And what she couldn’t do for herself, her children did. Or Nayoma, who came to the house regularly to bake cookies, do some shopping and look after Kathleen’s hairstyle, regularly refreshing the pink streak. Look out Billie Eilish.

elevated u6YfV She inherited her parents’ sense of humour, enjoying shows such as Hancock’s Half Hour and Monty Python’s Flying Circus. She also inherited their Catholicism and generosity of spirit. She was always ready to help those in need, ready to donate to charity. She was inventive. Lack of nylons during the war? Fake it. Use brown shoe polish to draw a seam down the back of your leg.

elevated u6YfV During the war, when she was old enough, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army. After quickly mastering Morse code she became a special wireless operator intercepting German military communications that were then forwarded to Bletchley Park. Until recently, because of the Official Secrets Act, she was unable to talk about her military service. Her wartime experience has been fictionalized in Robert Rotenberg’s recent book, “What We Buried”.

elevated u6YfV She finished the war with the rank of Corporal and, after demobilization, took advantage of the teacher training offered to veterans. At teacher’s college she met John Lavin, a Lancashire man and veteran of the RAF. They married in 1949 in Hull, Yorkshire, Kathleen’s home town. John was the love of her life. They were together for 71 years until his death in 2020.

elevated u6YfV In 1954, with three children aged five and under, she and her husband decided to leave England. John had trained in Rhodesia during the war and was quite taken with the country. Kathleen persuaded him to come to Canada instead, one of the many things for which her children are grateful.

elevated u6YfV In Canada both she and John worked in the Catholic school system, in Sarnia and Point Edward respectively. At Sacred Heart School Kathleen taught grade three and had her eldest daughter, Patricia, as a student. Not wanting to appear partial, Kathleen never once gave Patricia the highest mark on any test or project. Four of her children were born in Sarnia so she suspended her teaching career to look after them. She continued to read extensively and hone her writing and editorial skills. She enjoyed a critical discussion especially if it involved teaching, Catholicism or politics..

elevated u6YfV The family moved to Toronto in 1961 when the Metropolitan Separate School Board (later becoming the Toronto District Catholic School Board) was first formed and John was hired in an administrative capacity. Her two youngest children were born in Toronto.

elevated u6YfV Typing and amending her eldest son’s somewhat careless university papers convinced Kathleen that she would succeed at university. In her forties, she went back to school and completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology followed by a Master’s, after which she returned to teaching in the Catholic system. At this point, John was a senior administrator in the same board. Interesting teacher/administrator discussions ensued.

elevated u6YfV When Kathleen retired she did not waste her considerable energy and abilities. Her ways were as persistent as her Yorkshire accent. She, along with John, set up RESPs for their grandchildren. She took bible studies courses and started learning Hebrew. Misplaced commas or mismatched subject and verb did not go unnoticed.  She was an inspiring role model to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always ready with a story, and often one with a funny twist.

elevated u6YfV Kathleen was predeceased by her husband John and daughter Anne Marie. She is survived by her brother Paul, sister Margaret and eight children: Patricia (John), Michèle (Don), Peter (Judith), Shelagh (Shane), Aileen (Steve), Mary (Dale), Paul (Isolina) and Jane (Don). Kathleen is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren—enough to populate a Monty Python skit about Catholic fecundity.

elevated u6YfV Words cannot do justice to the legacy this remarkable woman leaves behind.  Her contributions to the British Army during WWII, her endless support for the special needs educational community, her generosity to anyone in need, and of course, her unwavering love and support of her family.

elevated u6YfV In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to North York Harvest Food Bank, Operation Smile Canada or Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

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