Cathy Keyes

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Cathy Keyes on June 24, 2023. Cathy fought a courageous battle with cancer and passed peacefully with her family by her side.
 
Cathy was born in Port Arthur on January 22, 1961. She attended Lakeview High School and her connections with friends and basketball teammates have lasted decades. She then went to Lakehead University earning degrees in outdoor recreation and social work. Her career was spent managing numerous programs with W.W. Creighton Youth Services supporting children at risk and their families. Cathy retired in 2021 after more than 30 years of service.
 
Cathy and Jim met at Lakehead University and after graduating, spent a couple years working and travelling abroad. They have many fond memories of their time in Nottingham, England. They returned, married and settled in Thunder Bay. Soon after, Cathy and Jim were blessed with the arrival of two daughters, Chelsey in 1991 and Marla in 1995. A lifetime of memories were made travelling in their motorhome across Canada, winter ski vacations and bringing the girls back overseas to England. Summers were spent at their camp water-skiing and playing in the waves. Along the beach friendships quickly grew into a Clover Beach family.
 
Cathy is lovingly remembered by: husband Jim, daughters Chelsey Keyes-Begall (Ryan Begall) and Marla Keyes (Dylan Brown), granddaughter Clara Begall, sister Trish Malmborg (Marty Strbavy), sister-in-law Connie Hollinsworth (Jim), father-in-law Bob Keyes, and nieces Hailey Hollinsworth (Josh Buosi), Bree Hollinsworth (Sean Cunningham), Laura Strbavy (Carmine Bourelly). She is predeceased by parents Marjory and Lou Malmborg and mother-in-law Mary Keyes.
 
Cathy’s family wants to take this opportunity to thank the healthcare teams at Regional Cancer Care Northwest and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Sincere gratitude to the staff of 1A who cared for her with such compassion and empathy in her final days.
 
If friends so desire and in lieu of flowers, donations in Cathy’s memory to the Northern Cancer Fund at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation would be appreciated (https://www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/memorial).
 
As per Cathy’s wishes a private interment will take place and there will be no formal funeral or celebration of life with speeches. A drop-in social gathering will take place for those wishing to share memories at the Slovak Solarium, Friday July 7, 2023 between 2:30-4:30pm.