Kathryn Wigle

Suddenly on August 4, 2021 at home, Kay Wigle of London passed away at the age of 67. Beloved wife of Brian (Chip) Martin and amazing mother of Lindsey and Scott Martin (Haley), of London and Hamilton, respectively. Dear sister of Tina Friars (Bob) and Meg Atkinson (Kevin) of Amherstburg and Jay Wigle (Cherylynn) of LaSalle. Predeceased by her parents Helen and David Wigle. Also left to mourn are brother-in-law Paul Martin of Pemberton, B.C., nieces Jennifer Mayrand (Chad), Kerry Martin and Robyn Wiseman (Jamie), as well as nephews Rob (Ashley), Adam and Jeffrey (Stephanie) Friars, Jason Martin, Greg Atkinson (Armelle) Skyler Wigle, as well as great nieces Ava and Aubrey Mayrand and great-nephew Aymeric Atkinson. Also deeply missed by her great friend Sylvia Rafferty (Dennis) of Brantford.



Kay loved animals from an early age and some of her fondest memories were working in the zoo at Bob-Lo Island in the Detroit River off Amherstburg. Sometimes she was allowed to take home some of the animals, including chimpanzees. In her later years she delighted in feeding the birds in her backyard and even the squirrels and chipmunks that happened by. A graduate of Fanshawe College, she was a developmental services worker and employed for a time at Family Service London. Later, she became a professor in the developmental services worker program at Fanshawe from which she retired in 2019. While there, she was active in the faculty union and was elected to the Fanshawe College board of governors. She regularly visited and played host to Shirley James and John Brown whom she met through her advocacy and brought them home for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with her family.



She was always a fierce advocate for persons with intellectual disabilities and her advocacy work in recent times expanded to include working to improve the lot of residents of long-term care homes and pushing the provincial government to make resident care their top priority. She was also president of Community Living London and was looking forward to her first year in that post.


A private family Funeral Service will be held in the O'Neil Funeral Home, London, on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, London. The service will be conducted by Rev. Catherine Tovell, of Kilworth United Church, where Kay and Chip were long-time members and where Kay so enjoyed teaching Sunday school for many years.


Friends are invited to an outdoor public Funeral Service on Wednesday, August 11, at 2:45 p.m. at Woodland Cemetery, 493 Springbank Dr, London, ON N6J 1H3.

In Kay's memory, please continue to make the world a better place for all. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking friends to consider donating to Community Living London, 190 Adelaide St. S., London, ON. N5Z 3L1 in her memory. (www.cll.on.ca)

Online condolences & Guest Book at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca O'Neil Funeral Home in charge of arrangements (519-432-7136). As per COVID-19 regulations, wearing of masks and physical distancing is required for the Funeral Service.