Kathleen Hambley

After a courageous battle with cancer, Kathleen Shannon Hambley (Froberg) passed away peacefully early on September 20, 2025, in Vancouver, BC, with her husband and children by her side. Kathleen had a generous heart and was a strong Christian who was deeply spiritual.

Kathleen is lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her devoted husband of 39 years, David Hambley, her children, Jeffrey Hambley (Mannell), Brett Hambley (Melissa), Tiarra Hambley (Jeffrey B.) and Jeffrey Szumilas (Steffany), her grandchildren, Dawn, William and Queesha, many nieces and nephews including; Nicholas, Matthew and Cadence Lovett, Rebecca Smolinski, Tarah Borkristl, Helena Froberg and many other nieces, nephews and cherished family members. She is survived by her loving sister in-law, Laura Hambley Lovett (Scott). She is also survived by her two sisters, Kerilee Vincent and Wendy Froberg.

Kathleen was born in Calgary, Alberta, on July 19, 1961. She had a difficult childhood with abusive parents, but she found love and guidance from her amazing Grandmother Florence (Nan) Marche. Kathleen didn’t enjoy the cold winters in Calgary and always dreamed of living by the ocean. She made that dream come true; for the past 16 years, Kathleen lived by the ocean, next to wonderful neighbors, in beautiful Kits Point, Vancouver.

She shared a strong and loving bond with her children and family, including her many nieces and nephews, all of whom brought her immense joy. She loved family gatherings and celebrations, games nights, and trips to Hawaii.

Kathleen was a passionate person who felt things deeply. She was considered a quiet person but was never afraid to speak up for what she believed in. She would always defend her friends and stand up for what was right. Kathleen was the most loyal person we knew, and you could always count on her to be there for you. She provided advice, mentorship, and support to those who needed it in her circle of close family and friends.

She was also a passionate reader and the most well-read person we knew, with a depth of knowledge that could rival Alex Trebek himself. From classic literature to non-fiction about brain function in children, Kathleen read it all. She could explain what she had read so accurately that you often didn’t have to read the book yourself. She always encouraged others to read and often gave books as gifts. Kathleen was an amazing gift giver and always took the time to find a perfect gift for her loved ones.

Kathleen loved music and was always the biggest fan of several rock bands including the Psycho Dogs, The Stone Groove and the Back Alley Drift. She enjoyed classic rock and knew the lyrics to almost every song. Kathleen loved to watch Midnight Special and play music game shows with her children and nephews.

Kathleen was highly creative. Her creativity shone through in the interior design of the many homes she lived in. She loved to renovate, and with her husband Dave, completed numerous renovations over 39 years, mostly in older character homes. She had remarkable interior design skills and used these to make renovations look purposeful and timeless. Everyone said that Kathleen’s homes were always welcoming and filled with a sense of warmth and comfort.

She loved animals and for almost her entire life Kathleen had at least one cat, sometimes two, and often a dog or two as well. Before having children, Kathleen volunteered at the Calgary SPCA. It wasn’t long before she was asked to work full-time. This led to an increased animal population in her home.

After having her first child, Kathleen chose not to pursue a full-time career but instead to be a homemaker for her family. She wanted to take her kids to school every day and to be there when they got home. She was fortunate to be able to do this. After her children were grown, Kathleen worked part-time for the family business, providing valuable input into the direction and culture of the successful enterprise, AWI.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the nurses at Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre for their excellent care over many months, and to Dr. Makarem, Dr. Nakhwal, Dr. Wu, Dr. Panjwani, and the BC Cancer Agency, for their compassion and support.

Loved by all who really knew her, she will be dearly missed and never forgotten.

If you’d like, please make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society on Kathleen’s behalf.