It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Kathleen “Kathy” Ethel Corkery, 71, on Jan 26th, 2026 at Halifax Hospice.

Kathy was born in Sydney, Cape Breton, NS, to Catherine “Kay/Katie” Elizabeth (nee Snow) and Michael Corkery.

After the family moved to Halifax, Kathy graduated from J.L. Ilsley High School in June 1973, then went on to study and graduate from the Dartmouth Regional Vocational School in 1974 with a diploma in Retail Management.

Through the 80s, Kathy furthered her education by obtaining certification as a Personal Care Worker and then graduated from the NSIT Community Services program. She earned specialty certification in Management Development and Human Relations, dedicating her career to helping others.

Through the 90s, she volunteered with the Halifax Association for Community Living, as well as Adsum House for Women and Children. She was a House Supervisor for Our Neighbourhood Living Society, working with neurodiverse clients and advocating for equity in how these clients were treated and how they lived.

Kathy began taking courses through Mount Saint Vincent University in the early 2000s. By October 2004, Kathy achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Dalhousie University. A massive accomplishment! Kathy worked in the field of Social Work for many years, until she succumbed to health issues.

Kathy was a HUGE lover of animals, especially cats, and had many feline friends as companions. She loved to be creative, discovering in her early 20s how important and freeing it was for her to create. She loved to knit and crochet, draw and paint, and in her later years made her own jewelry with beads and semi-precious gemstones. It was her dream to have her own Etsy shop and sell her designs, but her declining health impacted the success of that. Kathy was bright and resilient, sharing her sense of humour and laughter freely, with a super jovial and genuine spirit. She loved to sit around with friends, drinking tea, eating treats, and laughing uproariously. She was very happy the last four months of her life, staying at Halifax Hospice. It was peaceful and she enjoyed all the staff there who took such good care of her.

Besides her parents, Kathy is predeceased by her stepfather, Fred Hull; her sister, Pamela Wallbank; and brother-in-law, David Wallbank.

She is survived by her brother; Patrick Corkery (Barbara Feeney); nieces, Jeannine Corkery (Glen Beck), Kim Hodgson; nephew, Kerry Hodgson; stepsister, Anne Marie Hull Baker, first cousins, Germaine MacDonald, Darlene Fry (Gordon Fry), Irene McGilvery (Roderick McGilvery), and bestie Georgina Wallingham, plus many cousins and friends she considered family.

She will be missed and remembered with much love.

Cremation has taken place with T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 71 McQuade Lake Crescent, Beechville. A celebration of life will happen in the warmer months with family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathy’s name to Halifax Hospice or any organization that cares for animals or supports LGBTQ youth. The family is so very grateful to all the nurses, physicians, cooks, housekeepers, and volunteers at Halifax Hospice who took such good care of Kathy at her end of life. May your genuine spirit of love and laughter spread throughout the universe, Kathy!

Words of comfort may be shared with the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com.