It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Cathy McLean of Birch Hills, SK on November 2, 2013. She passed peacefully at the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert, SK at the age of 52, after a courageous fight with cancer. Cathy was born in Russell, MB on September 23, 1961 to Harold and Christine Fingas, the middle child in a family of three. She grew up on the family farm outside of Inglis, MB and graduated from Major Pratt Collegiate in Russell in 1979. Cathy completed one year at the University of Manitoba, then decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and completed her Registered Nursing training at Brandon General Hospital in 1982. It was in Brandon where she met and fell in love with her husband, Kelly McLean of Forrest, MB. Kelly and Cathy were married in Inglis, MB in August of 1985, and living in Coaldale, AB. They moved to Prince Albert in 1986, where she took a position with the Victoria Hospital, and Kelly became a member of the Prince Albert Police Service. Before moving to Prince Albert, Cathy nursed in the ICU in Brandon and Lethbridge, but dedicated the majority of her nursing career to the Victoria Hospital and the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region. She worked in the ICU and Home Care Services, but most notably in the Renal Dialysis Unit. It was in Dialysis where Cathy found her niche. She was a graceful, competent nurse and was fiercely dedicated to her patients. Her patients and colleagues fondly recollect her gentle smile and her calm demeanour. However dedicated Cathy was to her patients, it was to her family that she was the most devoted. An avid sports mom and music junkie, Cathy could always be seen at piano recitals and musicals, but most especially on the bleachers cheering her children on. If Cathy wasn’t busy chasing after her children, you could find her tending to her flowers or cruising through town on a power walk. She cherished her visits to the farm she grew up on, finding solace amidst the company of family and friends underneath a brilliant prairie sunset. She treated everyone with kindness and respect, urging her husband and children to “never burn bridges.” She looked at life with a calm sensibility and wisdom, and lived her life by this motto: It is what it is. Cathy is survived by her loving husband of 28 years, Kelly, and her three children: Kaitlyn (Bryce Lopers) of Guelph ON, Braden of Saskatoon and Jennifer of Birch Hills; her father Harold Fingas of Russell MB; her sister Darlene Armstrong of Swift Current SK; and her brother Ken Fingas of Inglis MB and her loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of long-time friends. She was predeceased by her mother Christine Fingas in 2003, and brother-in-law Doug Armstrong in 2012. A special thank you to the incredibly caring staff on Level 5 of the Victoria Hospital and to Cathy’s dialysis colleagues who made Cathy’s difficult journey so much more bearable through their compassionate and professional care. We are forever in your debt. In lieu of other tributes, the family would respectfully request that donations may be made to the Prince Albert Order of the Royal Purple, or to the Birch Hills Volunteer Fire Department. Cathy’s life will be celebrated with a service at the Lake Park Baptist Church in Birch Hills, SK on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 2:00 pm with Pastor Dennis Serfas officiating. She will be laid to rest in a private graveside service at Bethany South Cemetery in Inglis, MB on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray's Funeral Chapel, Drew Gray, Funeral Director.

• Date : 2013-11-02 06:00:00
• Location : Prince Albert, SK