Passed peacefully at Mariposa House Hospice on Thursday August 1, 2024, at the age of 69.
Predeceased by her parents, Bud and June Gilbert, and her sisters, Nancy (late husband, Larry) and Martha (Shane).
Kim is survived by her loving husband, Phil; daughters, Leah Bell (Ben) and Angela Calverley (Dave); her grandsons, Brady Bell, and Mckinley & Brighton Neller; and siblings, Jo Anne (Steve), Dean and Julie (John). She will be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews, who she loved dearly.
Kim was raised in Aurora before moving to Orillia to begin her training as a nurse. It was during this time that she met the love of her life- Phil and married in 1977. Kim’s natural gift was taking care of others. She was conscientious in serving her patients with respect and compassion at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, where she worked as an RPN for 36 years. Kim retired in 2010, shortly followed by her next career as “Nannie”. Her grandsons were her heart and joy, and there is no denying that they were the people that she loved the most. She left an imprint on their hearts that will last a lifetime. Kim took immense pride in all that she did, whether tending to her gardens, working on a home project, or baking for her loved ones. She was a caring soul, who was the first to whip up a home cooked meal for a friend in need. She had a way of connecting with people and was loved and adored by the many people that she met along the way, including her countless friends, co-workers, and patients. Her grace and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Kim combated cancer several times throughout her life, facing each battle with positivity and unwavering strength. When diagnosed with terminal cancer in October 2022, she beat incredible odds, bouncing back after a brief stay at Mariposa House Hospice. It was during this time that Kim decided that she just wanted “more time” to watch her grandsons grow. Despite having terminal cancer, Kim continued living the last 20 months of her life to its fullest, spending time with friends and family. Her kindness, generosity, and optimism remained steadfast, even in the face of adversity. During her steady decline and second admittance to hospice, Kim was visited by many of her wonderful friends who helped care for her. We would like to thank her many friends for all the love and support that they gave to Kim and our family, including Wanda, Lorie, Allie, Janet, and Marilyn. A special thanks to her life-long friend Beth, who accompanied Kim on her many oncology appointments as well as her newly made friend Tracy, who assisted her on her final journey.
Although it feels as if she left too soon, Kim lived a happy and full life, and we are honored to celebrate her. We encourage you to do the same.
Additional thanks to the following for all their compassionate care of Kim; the amazing staff at Mariposa House Hospice, Dr. Erika Catford of Orillia, Dr. Sarah Rask of RVH Regional Cancer Centre, RN Lindsay Goodchild of Bayshore and Maki Takimoto of North Simcoe Muskoka- Ontario Health at Home. A celebration of Kim’s life will be held at the Simcoe Funeral Home, 38 James St E Orillia on Wednesday August 21st, 2024, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
If desired, memorial donations to the Mariposa House Hospice would be appreciated.
Messages of condolence are welcomed at www.simcoefuneralhome.ca