Fund For Kathleen Spilek

Kathleen Elizabeth Spilek, Sept. 11, 1970 — Sept. 16, 2019 There wasn’t a hiking trail Kathleen didn’t like, a geocache she always want to find, or an adventure she never backed down from. Having battling and slain many a dragon, enjoyed camping at parks around this great country, laughed, drank and smiled with friends and family despite rainy weather camp weekends, Kathleen Spilek’s last battle was the hardest. On September 16th her almost five-year battle with cancer has come to an end. She was 49. Kathleen was the oldest of four children born to parents Dominic and Diane Spilek on September 11, 1970 in Bancroft, Ontario. Kathleen had been involved in Girl Guides for 25 years, 22 of those as a leader. Through her leadership and adventure she believed in the empowerment, advancement and facilitating girls to become the strong, independent women she knew they could become. Kathleen is survived by her husband Eric Wynne, children Kassia and Evan Wynne, sisters Christine O’Toole (husband Eric O’Toole), Colleen Spilek (partner Reid Cochrane) brother Jason (partner Christine Sawyer), nieces Dominique, Jillian, Inessa Spilek and Maddison and Chantal Sawyer, Amanda Wynne, and sister-in-law Deborah Kuehl (husband Bryan). Kathleen is also survived by parents Dominic and Diane Spilek, mother-in-law Kay Wynne, numerous cousins and their partners, as well as many aunts and uncles, and their partners. Kathleen enjoyed the fun and adventures with her friends, neighbours, fellow girl guide and scout leaders, and of her ‘work families’ as she lived in her adopted province of Nova Scotia for the last 21 years. While she was battling her initial rectal cancer, and subsequent metastasized cancer Kathleen began educating and informing family, friends and anyone who would listen to the value of early detection and advocating for one’s own health. The family would like to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at Dartmouth General, the Halifax Infirmary, the Dickson Cancer Centre and lastly the Palliative Care floor at the Centennial Building for buying us more time with Kathleen at the end of her cancer journey. A visitation will occur at 4 pm on Thursday, September 19th at A.J. Mattatall Funeral Home, 217 Portland Street. The funeral service will be held at 7 pm. A short reception will follow. Cremation will occur after. A final funeral and burial will occur at St. Ignatius Parish in Maynooth, Ontario, the following week. To remember Kathleen please make a donation to a GoFundMe campaign to set up a self-perpetuating post-secondary scholarships for girls enrolled in Girl Guides at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/1pagugrzqo?member=2603732 Kathleen’s family would also like to continue to educate on early detection of colorectal cancer by getting tested. In many provinces, once you turn 50, the provincial health department sends out a test kit. Kathleen was diagnosed with Stage 2 rectal cancer at the age of 44. Early detection at any age is key to battling cancer. Find out more information at: http://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/reduce-cancer-risk/find-cancer-early/get-screened-for-colorectal-cancer/?region=on "The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world, or a relationship... Everything has its time. And everything ends." Online condolences can be viewed or sent to: www.mattatallfuneralhome.com