Kaye Devlin She had a good death!

How many people can you say this about?
It is with great sadness that I mourn a dear friend.
She lived her life to the fullest, no matter her physical situation.

Kay's Paintings

Catherine (Kaye)  Devlin née Wilson, (1916 - 2012) passed away this morning. I loved my visits with her. She was a delightful person. Despite her hardships, she was a person who responded with dignity to the world around her. She became a nurse, she was a farmer's wife, and raised her children well. She spoke fondly of babysitting her grandchildren. They gave her such joy.

She was 95-years-old. She lived in Perth Community Care Centre, with her husband. She was the chair of the Resident Council and attended Family Council meetings. She wrote and recited her poetry and she painted. She had an incredible attitude towards life and I loved her!

I interviewed Kaye for an international video project. She was obviously excited to do this.
 She tells a charming story in the video.
"Every now and again my husband is very much himself."
One day she gave him a hug and a kiss. He said, "Do you know you're the only one of all the girls that look after me that kisses me? I can't understand why you want to kiss an old man. We won't tell my wife."


One Day On Earth 11.11.11 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

To quote her regarding being in long-term care," I learned so much about myself and about others. Things I hadn't realized when I was nursing."
In this photo, I had taken in Princess Ducky -my granddaughter's stuffed toy!

She loved the spotlight, and bringing a smile to other people's faces. She spoke highly of the people around her.

I helped her create a Valentine door hanging last year. 

  About being in long-term care, "You have to realize it's not the end of your life; it's a part of it."

Kay designed it and I helped her glue it!

Kaye was quick to let you know that her poetry is inspired by her current life situation, but she doesn't let that limit her mind. Her body has been limited in many ways, with aging. She dealt with these things well until this past year when her mobility issues began. She lost her clear vision in the past few months and had to stop painting. She learned to paint at age 75. She wrote and recited fabulous poems.

Kay loved the Fashion Show!

Kaye was so delightful to work with. Always grateful for any time I could give her, yet I got so much back from her!

There was a fashion show in her LTC home and she participated with both grace and glee.

When she was 65, in 1982, Kaye participated in a Perth community theatre production of L'll Abner. She was a true showwoman.

Here is a link to Kaye's Obituary Notice.

Kaye was a busy woman to near the end of her lifespan.

Nintendo's Wii gets seniors back in the game

Kay Devlin may be 91 and recovering from a fracture, but it didn't stop her from winning a bowling tournament at her old age home in eastern Ontario — thanks to Nintendo's Wii.

Video games have become the latest rage at the Perth Community Care Centre, where staff hope virtual sports will help improve the elderly residents' physical health. Kay Devlin, 91, beams during a round of Wii bowling that she later won against Charlie Edwards. (CBC)

Open Book's Five Things Literary series

Five Things Literary is a series that gives our readers a sense of literary life in the author's community. You can read what others have done here.

Jennifer Jilks
Living and dying with dignity : A daughter's journey through long-term care /Jilks, Jennifer A. 2008. I live near Perth, Ontario. Cottage Country in south eastern Ontario.

Heritage Perth

Perth, in Lanark County, has a strong number of volunteers who assist others in the community. As a hospice volunteer, I have found many who give back a little of what they have been given.

1. Perth, established in 1816, is a delightful town. Just out of town, I go to the forest for inspiration for my blogs; where the birds, the bears and the bees, provide much for my photography and writing.

2. We live in a community which embraces authors, artisans, actors, artists, agriculture and those who enjoy rural life. We have many festivals to celebrate both author, agriculture and artisan.

• Perth Garlic Festival 
• Stewart Park Music Festival 
• Festival of the Maples
• Perth Studio Tour
• Perth Fair
• Classic Theatre Festival

3. The local library has many great programs, including children's programs to encourage readers. They are most supportive of all ages, and allowed me to host a 'How to Get Published' workshop!

4. I've been working on a list of Ottawa Valley authors. Living in the Ottawa Valley, we have a strong community, with many close ties. Only an hour from Ottawa, many have cottages here, where shallow lakes host much wildlife. I call it Cottage Country Southeastern Ontario!

Local bookstores have been good to local authors.

James Bartleman at a book signing in Perth.
He and I traded books! A great way to read other writers

For example:
James Bartleman

• Raisin Wine: A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka
/ 2007
• Out of Muskoka / 2006
• Rollercoaster : my hectic years as Jean Chrétien's diplomatic advisor, 1994-1998 / 2005

5. We have many strong women in Perth. Kay Devlin, 95, a resident of PCCC, is one of the wisest women in this community. Retired nurse, farmer, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, she has the wisdom and strength that life experience has 
One Day On Earth 11.11.11 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.granted to those who embrace it.
About being in long-term care,
"You have to realize it's not the end of your life; it's a part of it."
She was getting extra home support, but caring for her husband began to be too much. They had Meals on Wheels for awhile, but the demands of caring for loved ones with dementia, as we all know, can be overwhelming.
She is quick to let you know that her poetry is inspired by her current life situation, but she doesn't let that limit her mind. Her body has been limited in many ways, with aging.
She recognizes her health issues, and her vision challenges, but doesn't let that stop her.
She learned to paint at age 75. She writes and recites fabulous poems.

Celebration of a life worth living

Here is the video I created for 11/11/11 *One Day On Earth!
Kay will be 95 on December 20th, 2011!


One Day On Earth 11.11.11 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Perth Community Care Centre

This is a visit with my friend, Kay Devlin. She is 95-years-old. She lives in Perth Community Care Centre, with her husband. She is the chair of the Resident Council and attends Family Council meetings.

She writes and recites her poetry and she paints. She has an incredible attitude towards life and I love her!

She receives excellent care in her long-term care. There is always someone there to help her, or her husband. He has Alzheimer's Disease, and sometimes he is 'very much himself', she tells me! She tells a charming story in the video.
 I learned so much about myself and about others. Things I hadn't realized when I was nursing.

About being in long-term care,
"You have to realize it's not the end of your life; it's a part of it."
She was getting extra home support, but caring for her husband began to be too much. They had Meals on Wheels for awhile, but the demands of caring for loved ones with dementia, as we all know, can be overwhelming.

She is quick to let you know that her poetry is inspired by her current life situation, but she doesn't let that limit her mind. Her body has been limited in many ways, with aging.
She recognizes her health issues, and her vision challenges,
She learned to paint at age 75. She writes and recites fabulous poems.

Kay's painting table

*Founded in 2008, One Day on Earth's first media creation event occurred on 10.10.10. The collaboration was the first ever simultaneous filming event occuring in every country of the world. It created a unique geo-tagged video archive as well as an upcoming feature film.