O'NEIL (Grimm), Kathleen Linda "Kay"

The death of Kathleen Linda (Grimm) O'neil occurred on April 30, 2022. She was born to Cora Maude (Crouse) and Daniel Earnest Grimm of Middle Lahave, Lunenberg Co., on October 30, 1925. She attended school at First South and was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. She spent three summers on Hermans Island with Dr. Russell Zinck and family. After completeing school she lived in Mahone Bay where she was employed with Bank of Montreal until her marriage on September 6, 1947 to Reginald Lee O'neil. They lived in Stewiacke for five years, then Spryfield for 58 years where she was a member of St. Paul's United Church and a community volunteer. She then moved to Clayton Park where she lived happily with the help of her daughters who faithfully gave all necessary care during her last years. Our mother liked to read the obituaries and marvelled at the education, talents, and accomplishments of others. To us, she was truly a marvel herself. She had a fantastic memory, able to recite birthday and anniversary dates upon request and kept up on all current events and hockey news. She was the most wonderful, loving, giving, hard working mother and grandmother anyone could ask for. She was the first one up in the morning and the last one to bed at night. Like many of her era, her days were busy with cleaning, gardening, baking, preserving, even snow shoveling or lawn mowing with long summer evenings of raking. If she took a break from that she was ironing (even the sheets got a good rub). We had many family gatherings over the years with an abundance of good, hearty, homemade food including her own relishes, bread, rolls, pies (we all had our favourites), and of course cookies (healthy ones) for the grandchildren. These were accompanied with lots of love and laughter, repeated stories of "way back when" and of course a good helping of advice whether we wanted it or not. With those family dinners, she created wonderful memories for her children and grandchildren to remember and cherish. Stories we will undoubtedly retell for years to come and then we will laugh all over again. She was constantly reminding us to always be kind to others and to appreciate what we have, "remember, there are lots of people out there that are worse off than you". Kay was predeceased by her husband, Lee in 2009; and son-in-law, Bob Johnson in 2019. She is survived by son, Harry (Marlene) O'neil; daughters, Nancy Johnson and Linda (Mike) Barrette; grandchildren, Eryn (George) Saygan, Kelli (Nathan) Thompson, Leah (Troy) Johnston, Karen (Ben) Rudman, Mike (Julia) Johnson, Paul (Kayla) Barrette, David Barrette and John (Sarah) Barrette; greatgrandchildren, Arabella, Brielle, Emmett, Elliot, James, Lauchie, Quinn, Meika, Riane, Locklyn, Cullen, Ada, Cleo, and Sophie. She was the last remaining family member of her generation. Cremation has taken place. Interment will be in Brookside Cemetery, Stewiacke. A family celebration will take place at a later date. Mom has left a bigger hole in our lives than she would ever have imagined. She was a very special person, a true marvel. Goodbye Mom, goodbye Grammie, goodbye "Grammie the Great". You will live on in our hearts and we will never ever forget you. Thank you.