Obituary of Josephine Jane (née Calvert) Kains
Peacefully at her residence in the Sunshine Centre of Luther Village, on Friday, April 5, 2019 in her 102nd year. Left behind are her 3 sons, Franklin (Luella) of Kitchener, David (Nancy) of Mindemoya, and Robert (Lynn) of Victoria, BC.; her grandchildren, Joanna of Mississauga and Daniel of Toronto; and her great-grandchildren, Jadin and Theodore. Predeceased by her husband, Archie Kains (1991) and her siblings, Beatrice, Mildred, Alexina, Jack, and Helen. Mom grew up on a farm near Banner, east of London. In 1943, she joined the navy and served as a WREN in Halifax, St. Hyacinthe and Victoria where she worked as a teletype operator, receiving and transmitting messages overseas. Many close friends were made which continued for the rest of her life. After the war, she returned to marry Archie and they operated a dairy farm outside of Byron (now part of London) until 1970. After retiring, they moved to Arva and after Dad's death, Mom moved to London and finally, in 2005 to Luther Village to be closer to her family. Perhaps from living through the depression, or her years in the WRENS, or spending much of her life on a dairy farm, Mom would often say during trying circumstances: “Just get on with it”. That, and regular laughter proved to be good medicine for 101 years. Many thanks to all those at Luther Village who came in contact with Josephine over the years, and particularly to the staff of the Memory Wing of Sunshine Centre for their kindness and exceptional care in her final days. A Celebration of Life will take place at LUTHER VILLAGE ON THE PARK, 139 Father David Bauer Drive, Waterloo on Friday, April 26, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. in the Waterfall Gallery. A funeral service will be conducted at ST. JOHN THE DIVINE ANGLICAN CHURCH, 21557 Richmond Street, Arva on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Josephine are asked to consider the Lutherwood Child and Family Foundation, Waterloo or St. John the Divine Anglican Church, Arva.
