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Posted Jan 9, 2025 | 1:34 PM
Peacefully and surrounded by family at Belleville General Hospital on January 7, 2025 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Kay was 90 years old.
Kathleen Joan Manderville (nee Blenkhorn) was born on November 6, 1934 in Springhill and grew up in South Athol, Nova Scotia. Pre deceased by her parents Wilfred and Patience Blenkhorn, her sister Alice Harrison (Lawrence) and brother George Blenkhorn (Betty). Kay is survived by her sisters Audrey Boss (Ormond) and Barbara Gilbert (Edmund).
Kay met the love of her life, Gene Manderville, at Mount Allison University and they were married on August 22, 1959 and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Kay and Gene devoted their lives to family, their careers, and to travel.
Kay was a professor of anatomy at Queen’s University and taught many students who went onto careers in the field of health. She also was a keen observer of politics and was a candidate in federal and municipal elections. Kay found success locally and was a Hastings County School Board Trustee (1982-1988) and a Belleville City Councillor (1988-2003). Kay was particularly proud of her work as Councillor on numerous projects to improve the City of Belleville, including the Riverfront Trail, Market Square redevelopment, and the Bus Terminal.
Kay and Gene loved to travel and Kay would boast about swimming or dipping her toe in the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans along with the Black, Mediterranean, and Red Seas. She visited all continents but Antarctica, though she came close when she sailed around Cape Horn!
Kay was dedicated to her family and she is survived by her husband Dr. Eugene Manderville, children Peter (Terry Campbell), Kathleen (Mike Allison), Richard (Gail), and Ken (Stephanie), her 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff at BGH and Dr. John Coady who was one of Kay’s anatomy students at Queen’s. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to donate may give to the Belleville General Hospital Foundation or Parkinson Canada.
Visitations will be held at Burke Funeral Home (613-968-6968), 150 Church Street, Belleville on Friday, January 17, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will take place at Eastminster United Church on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Kay was a kind person whose genuine manner appealed to people. She loved children and enjoyed singing to them. In the words of a favourite song…
“Ain’t got no rain barrel
Ain’t got no cellar door
But we’ll be jolly friends
Forever more”