It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Katherine Ann Martino at the age of 83, peacefully and surrounded by family, after a long illness. She was the matriarch of our Martino family and will be profoundly missed by her husband of 62 years, Michael John Martino, her four sons Michael (Carol), Terry (Tracey), David (Martha), Kevin (Tami) and the ten grandchildren she loved so much. Also mourned by her sister Lynda (Don) Sellar and her nieces and nephews of the Sellar and Martino families.

The daughter of John and Eileen Murphy, Katherine grew up in Hamilton with her younger sister Lynda and attended Notre Dame Academy in Waterdown. Upon graduation she married the love of her life, a neighbourhood boy named Michael Martino. A very young Katherine taught elementary school at St. Augustine's in Dundas while Michael graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Soon enough, the young couple welcomed four sons in five years, and Katherine devoted herself to managing a very busy household. Somehow, in the midst of all this, she stayed active with the Catholic Womens' League, the Catholic Children's Aid, recording books to tape for the CNIB and volunteering for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Hamilton. In her minimal spare time, she completed a Bachelor of Education over thirteen years, typing away late at night in the upstairs den after the boys were finally asleep.

With her children a bit older, Katherine continued her studies, earning a Masters in Social Work from McMaster University and later, a Masters in Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). She returned full time to her education career in 1983, serving first as a guidance counsellor at Notre Dame High School in Burlington before becoming the long-serving and much loved Head of Student Services at St. Ignatius of Loyola High School in Oakville.

Katherine was an avid sportswoman with a tricky left-handed serve, a fine conversationalist with a lively sense of humour, and the family secretary with the perfect cursive penmanship. She loved the best in interior design, good food and wine, fine clothes, interesting travel, and everything about summers at the cottage on Long Point, Balsam Lake. She loved decorative frogs and collected them, read only the best in Canadian literary fiction and habitually drove a bit faster than the posted rate. She was Mom to her boys, Nan to her ten grandchildren, and simply Katherine to everyone else. Under any name, she was an unfailing support, a good counsellor and friend whenever needed, and was always ready to share in both the joys and the struggles of the many people she mentored and touched.

In later years she suffered from mobility issues and then, finally, the cruelty of Alzheimers, but bore it all with the kind of enduring grace that is both an example and a blessing. The family would like to thank all Katherine's caregivers, especially Cathie and Zach, for their steadfast support.

She leaves behind a space in all our hearts that will never be filled, and a lifetime of memories her family and friends will cherish forever.

Visitation in Katherine's honour will be held on Tuesday, June 14 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West in Oakville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Katherine's name to the Alzheimer Society of Canada .

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Wednesday, June 15 at 1 p.m. at Saint Matthew Roman Catholic Church, 1150 Monks Passage Oakville, with reception to follow.

All who knew Katherine and were touched by her exemplary life are asked to join us as we gather to honour our Mom.