Obituaries

Catherine (Cathy) Leslie Young (nee Ramsden) 

July 22, 1943 – April 25, 2024 

Catherine Leslie Young (nee Ramsden) passed away in the early hours of April 25th, 2024 at the age of 80, with her children by her side.

She is predeceased by her parents Olwen and Leslie Ramsden, and sisters Rae Minaker and Renee Ryback, and her three children, Jennifer Trumbla (Jason), Jason Young (Katherine), all of Winnipeg, Jill Rashotte (John) of Orillia, Ontario, and her two grandsons, Colton Trumbla, and Blake Trumbla. She will be dearly missed by many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Cathy was born in Lethbridge, Alberta and moved with her parents and sisters to Winnipeg. She was a proud graduate of Silver Heights Collegiate, and in her younger years attended many dances and social events. She went on to become a flight attendant, based in Minneapolis, and then Seattle, a job she greatly enjoyed. She returned to her hometown of Winnipeg, and after having her children, Cathy spent many years serving customers in the St. James area as a bank teller, and then went on to become an accounting clerk. She always put much dedication and passion into all of her work.

Cathy was an avid watcher of figure skating, musical theatre, and loved music, always dancing and singing along. She was known as a friendly, kind, and strong lady, a dedicated mother to her children, and a caring grandma to her two grandsons. Her greatest accomplishment in life was being a mom, her greatest work was done within the walls of our own home. Cathy wore so many hats, sometimes more than one at a time. She made sure to devote her time and resources to make sure her kids would have what they needed. Cathy and the kids worked together as a family unit, with shared roles, happy and sad times, and sometimes times of struggle. She loved beyond measure, cultivating the close relationships between her kids. She gave her children the tools to stay motivated to work harder, and achieve their highest potential.

She encouraged and supported Jennifer to get a university degree, and helped to look after her two boys when they were little. Jason made her proud, keeping some of her interests with the airlines, and she supported him in his career with the police. They shared many experiences and stories along Jason’s career journey. Jill had a knack for sharing the good things in life, together they enjoyed watching movies, attending the theatre, going on camping trips, and visiting with family friends. Cathy was the mom who also did all the research possible, to eventually find the perfect first family pet, a shih tzu named Mattie, who was the first to flop on Mom’s feet after a long work day. Cathy answered many a call to help out her kids with homework, proofreading essays, writing book reports, and listening to school presentations. She didn’t miss a band concert, or other school performances. She was more than a special mom to her kids, she was a source of comfort, a quiet light that was always on for you on the other end of the phone, when you had nothing to talk about at all, or something exciting to tell. Her kids would tell you there’s nothing more they loved, than to drive to her apartment and stop in for a chat on the couch.

Cathy was the happiest doing the little things in life, enjoying many trips to the lake, camping, and other travels with family, and especially spending time together over the holidays. She made the best shortbread cookies, and turkey dinner. Though struggles from the effects of dementia over the last number of years came upon her, she fought with such strength and resilience, a true testament to the kind of person she was.

A Celebration of Life – Open House gathering will be held Saturday June 15th, 2024, at 3238 Assiniboine Avenue, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Cathy’s name, to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

The family wants to extend a special thank you to the staff at Golden West Centennial Lodge, for their care over the last number of years.