Katherine Rose McLeod
Age 27 – it is with shock and deep sadness that we share the news of Katie’s passing on October 16, 2020 as a result of a cardiopulmonary event at Scarborough Grace Hospital, Toronto. Katie is survived by her loving parents Ken McLeod (Bernie) and Debra Edwards (Dan), brothers Trevor (Shireen) and Colin (Chelsey). She is greatly missed by her sweetheart, Andrew Harrison and best friend, Jessica Wintergerst. Remembered with love by grandparents: Jeanne and Peter Edwards and Phyllis McLeod, and many aunts, uncles and cousins, along with her extended Halverson family. A Celebration of Life will be held in the future, when conditions permit.
Katie was a shining example of what a sensitive and caring person can be. She radiated empathy and positivity to all those around her. She loved her family and friends, cats, travel, music, especially Lights and Taylor Swift, decorating, baking, and embroidery. She was the ultimate achiever and had just begun her career, after studying Alternative Dispute Resolution and had already made her mark as an exemplary employee and important part of her team. She was the lead Information Referral Coordinator at the Family Law Information Centre at the Newmarket Court House, as well as the assistant to Dr. Barbara Landau, a world- renowned expert/pioneer in the field of ADR.
Her family is comforted by the knowledge that Katie lives on through her organ donations of her heart, lungs and liver. Memorial donations to a planned memorial garden/city bench (in Broadlands Park and Rosetta McClain Gardens) can be emailed to debrae@rogers.com or you may wish to consider the following charities which were meaningful to Katie:
(Katie was a cat lover beyond compare and also worked with the Yellow Brick House organization as part of her job with York Hills). To honour Katie, consider being a blood donor, a volunteer, being kind or doing a good deed. She will forever be in our hearts and never forgotten.
Thank you to the special families in the Parkwoods community where Katie was raised for their support during this difficult time. We are very grateful to the ICU staff at Scarborough Health Network for their heroic efforts and respectful care to our treasured daughter and especially to Sharon Snow of the Trillium Gift of Life Network for her compassionate assistance.
Katie is a hero and you can be too! Please consider registering as an organ donor. https://beadonor.ca/campaign/debra-edwards
John Halverson and Family
Our sincere condolences and prayers during this time of loss.
Debra
Thanks John for this message as well as those you’ve posted on FB. The outpouring of love and support from friends and family is really appreciated!
Brenda Howsam
Debra and family
We are very sorry for you great loss. Katie was a wonderful person! If there’s anything we can do to help you, don’t hesitate to ask.
Love, Brenda & Gary
Debra
Thanks Brenda and Gary,
Yes – she was a wonderful daughter, sister, niece, cousin and grand-daughter as well as a friend to many. We hope she might be reunited with Shado now. Thank you for your kind message.
– Debra
gigi van weezel
Dearest Debra and family, our hearts of broken with the passing of Katie. What a beautiful woman with a generous spirit.
With love Gigi, Val, Mateo, Miaelena
Debra
Thank you so much for your message and it was wonderful to see you Val and Gigi last week. Love never ends.
– Debra
Kaylee MacKinnon & Nicole Argueta
To Katie’s family:
Sending love and hugs from afar. We are deeply sorry your loss. Katie was kindhearted and such an amazing force! She is deeply missed.
With love,
Kaylee and Nicole
Debra
Thank you Kaylee and Nicole. Katie was indeed a very special girl and we will miss her always.
– Debra
Jeanne and Peter Edwards
As Grandparents, Jeanne and I feel privileged to have to have such energized Grandchildren.
The bright star that shone for Katie in her career options and her personal endeavours, will not be
extinguished by her passing, but will live on due to her generous donations so that others may live
full lives.
We love you Katie – forever.
Debra
Mom and Dad,
Thank you for all your love and support – helping me become the person I am, and subsequently, who Katie turned out to be. She was a reflection of all the good qualities every parent hopes for: intelligent, kind, loving and lovable, creative, funny, generous, a person who nurtured friendships, who was an awesome sister to her brothers and I was so proud to be her mother. We will miss her every single day.
Deborah Wren
I’ve known Katie since she was a little girl. Always visiting my sister Chris’s place with her best friend Brittany. She had a beautiful smile and great conversations she will be missed greatly. Love you Katie
Debra
Thank you Deborah. I know you would have really seen Katie’s creative side from all the cupcakes and costumes for so many of Brittany’s parties over the years. I’m glad you got to know her and see her grow into the beautiful young woman she became.
– Debra
Linda Williamson
Our deepest sympathy to the whole family.
It is far too early in life to go.
Linda and Andy Williamson
Debra
Thank you Linda and Andy for your message. She was a beautiful young woman just getting launched into her chosen career – taken far too soon.
Rick and Nadia
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family. From the out pouring of love it is obvious she was a very giving soul and a cornerstone of her family. Our deepest sympathy.
Debra
Thanks Rick and Nadia. We will feel this loss forever, as Trevor and Colin now have to live the rest of their lives without their sister. We are comforted by messages such as yours.
– Debra
Shirley and Bob
Our heart aches for you during this very difficult time. May the memories of Katie and her imprint on life be a source of comfort to you in the days ahead.
Debra
Thanks Shirley and Bob. Katie was part of such a wonderful (huge!) family with all of my aunts, uncles, cousins. She loved our last trip to Nova Scotia and we had hoped to have another this year. She will always be a part of us and the support we’re getting now as a family is helping us so much to work through our grief.
– Debbie
Anne Marie MacDonald
Dear Debra and Family,
Today and always, may loving memories bring you comfort and strength.
Someone as special as your beautiful Katie will be remembered always for the joy she brought to this world.
With heartfelt condolences,
Anne Marie
Debra
Thank you Anne Marie – for this lovely message, and also the time spent on the phone listening as I share my stories of Katie. I know this is not the end of our story – I will let Katie guide me on the path ahead.
– Debra
Colleen Parrish and Ted Yao
Ted and Colleen, Bernie’s friends, were heartbroken to hear of the great loss of Katie, a beautiful and accomplished young woman. She will be so missed. We have donated to the cat rescue group, in honor of the love of kitties that she shared with Ken and Bernie. I know Buddy misses her!
Debra
Thank you Ted and Colleen. She sure was a cat lover and thank you for your donation to Team Cat Rescue! We’re hoping Katie and Shado along with other family cats may be reunited. We will miss our beautiful daughter forever.
Helen Pawlak
Dear Debra
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful beautiful daughter. 27 way too young for that to happen to her, she had her whole life ahead of her. I just don’t know what to say, I feel terrible for you. Just remember all the precious memories of good times you had with her and your other 2 sons as a family to help heal your grief. And my cousin Dan will always be there for you in your time of need.
Sincerely Helen Pawlak
Debra
Hi Helen. Sorry for the delay in acknowledging your message. Thank you for your kind words. Every day is hard but Katie left us with an abundance of photos, written words and memories which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.
George Bragues
To the McLeod family:
On behalf of the University of Guelph-Humber, I would like to express our sincerest condolences for your loss of Katherine. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this sad and very difficult time.
George Bragues, Interim Vice-Provost, University of Guelph-Humber
Brenda Whiteside, Interim Director Administration and Student Services, University of Guelph-Humber
David Danto, Program Head, Psychology, University of Guelph-Humber
Debra Edwards (mother)
Thank you. Katie had furthered her education at Humber, graduating with Honours last year from her post-graduate course in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She was indeed a success story as part of the alumni!
bernadette allen
Debra and Ken, It has been a couple of weeks now since Katie’s passing, and I just wanted to let you know how blessed I was to have Katie in my life. Katie brought so much joy and laughter into my life. I will miss our cups of tea,I cant cook but, I make a great cup of tea, its a British thing, I will miss her great big smile, her laughter, and our talks about life, Katie has left me with lots of happy memories, she will always be in my heart, and will never be forgotten. Love Bernie
Debra
Hi Bernie,
Sorry for the late acknowledgement/reply. You were Katie’s second mum and I thank you for all the love and caring you provided to all three of our children (and continue to do so). I know you’ll never forget her and thank you for helping organize her things for me and for all the support you’re now providing to Ken. Katie loved you so much and she enjoyed her “cuppa” with you and your chats. You reminded her of her British heritage and you both shared a great love for animals. She will always be in our hearts. xx
Jade Allen
Dearest Debra and Ken,
My sincerest condolences to you and your family on the loss of sweet Katie. This is an absolute heartbreaking tragedy. A precious life taken from us so young. Please know I am thinking of you and sending all my love your way.
Katie was truly an angel-she was a light in this world and radiated sunshine, warmth and kindness wherever she went. Katie was so unbelievably caring, empathetic and patient. She always believed in me and always reminded me to find joy in the small things. Thank you Katie for always accepting and loving me as I am. You always held space for me to just be me. I am forever grateful for you Katie.
I love you, forever and always.
Love Jade
Debra
Thanks Jade for your lovely words – you were very special to Katie as well. It’s hard to believe such a beautiful, kind, caring, generous young woman can be gone so quickly, without warning. We are comforted by the warm messages such as yours, knowing we are being carried by so much support. Thank you for keeping Katie in your heart and thoughts always. I hope she continues to guide you in the future. xx
Jane Spratt
Debra,
I am so sorry to hear the news of Katie’s passing. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Debra
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your message. I feel so comforted by the many families in the neighbourhood who saw Katie grow from a baby to a lovely young woman. The moms are a great support, as you can imagine.