Kathleen “Kay” S. (Donovan) Dale, 99, of Jefferson, died a peaceful, serene and beautiful death on June 25. She was surrounded by her four loving children while reciting poetry with a smile on her face right until the end.
Kay was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on Jan. 4, 1917, the second daughter, of four siblings, to James and Cornelia (Mussy) Donovan.
Her father was an Irishman who had grown up on the streets of Brooklyn, NYC. Her mother was raised a southern belle in Helena, Ark. Her parents moved from Hamilton, Ontario to Toronto where Kay attended the University of Toronto, deciding to major in biochemistry. It was during these studies that she met a dashing young man in her chemistry class, James “Jim” W. Dale, and they were married on June 7, 1941. These were the war years and Kay postponed her studies to join the Canadian war effort as an inspector of newly manufactured anti-aircraft guns destined for Europe, while her husband was given a Captain’s rank in the Army as a chemist involved in top secret research.
At war’s end Kay returned to U of T where she became interested in DNA and graduated with a B.A in biochemistry. In 1945 the arrival of her first born, Norah Anne, ended her pursuit of an M.A., and Norah was soon followed by Barbara Jean, Kathleen “Kathy” Margaret, and James “Jim” Michael Bradley. The family moved to Cambridge, England in 1952 while her husband obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge University.
After returning to Canada for five years, the family then moved to Winchester, Mass., near Boston, where Kay answered an ad for a lab manager in a newly opened facility at Boston Children’s Hospital in the exciting and emerging field of genetics. So began a 25-year career devoted to the research and applied aspects of human chromosomal DNA and the pediatric phenotypic expression of abnormal genetic mutations.
Upon the death of her husband in 1988, Kay retired as lab manager, but continued to work for several years as the archivist for the Association of Cytotechnologists. In 1995 Kay fully retired and moved to Jefferson with her elderly brother Norton, and her daughter Barbara and grandson Luke.
In Jefferson she was close to her beloved cottage on Pemaquid Pond, and it was in Jefferson where she joined the congregation at St. Giles Episcopal Church, where she forged a strong friendship with the late Pastor Bob Jewitt, and where she became librarian and archivist.
Kay cared for her brother Norton with great love and devotion until his death. She spent her last years enjoying the camp on Pemaquid surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and, of course, her beloved cats and dog. Kay had immense love for her children and family, and they in turn were devoted to her. She will be sorely missed by them all, and she has left a legacy that will be hard to match, but she will forever live on in their hearts and souls, and will be forever cherished.
Kay outlived her three siblings and her husband. She is survived by her children, Norah, Barbara, Kathy and Jim; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., July 2 at St. Giles Episcopal Church, 72 Gardiner Rd., Jefferson. Reverend Susan Kraus will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in benefit of research into liposarcoma cancer, a very rare and aggressive disease that is afflicting Kay’s son Jim. There is a donation section on the QE2 Foundation website where donations can be made under “Other” in the name of “Jim Dale”. https://qe2foundation.ca/generaldonation. On the main page please scroll down to Donation Information. First, fill in the Amount box. Second, in the Designation box click on “Area of Greatest Need,” and a second option comes up, Other. Click on “Other” and type in “Jim Dale.” Then proceed to fill in the rest of the form. Thank you for your generosity.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
