Obituary of Caterina Regina Pohl (Pedrotti)

How do you sum up almost 100 years of a person’s life? Caterina (Katie) Regina (Pedrotti) Pohl was born April 27, 1925 in Coleman, Alberta, but moved to Kimberley with her parents a few months later.  Giacomo and Anna Pedrotti raised Mom, her sister Tina, and her brother Johnny, first in Morrison Sub, then in Upper Blarchmont.  Mom and the town grew up together. She was head telephone operator at the Kimberley telephone office in the second half of the 1940s, and worked at the Kimbrook Hotel, the Kimberley Golf Course, and the ski hill in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mom married Frank Pohl in 1949, and a few years later they moved to the south end of Rotary Drive.  Mom became part of a vibrant neighborhood, where she thrived on the friendships and social life and mutual support that were so much a part of it.  Besides raising her own four children, she became “Auntie Katie” to many others. She was a kind, generous, and loving person—and oh, so much fun!  She joked and sang at every opportunity.  She was always on the lookout for those less fortunate than her, doing what she could to make their lives easier. If someone suffered a tragedy, she was on the phone to them offering condolences and help.  She also loved bringing people together. Our cabin at Wasa Lake was her “heaven on earth,” where she and Dad hosted many gatherings of family and friends and years of annual picnics for the BC Hydro Power Pioneers.

Mom spent her last 12 years at Garden View, which she fondly referred to as “the institution.” She loved the camaraderie and kindness of the staff and her fellow “inmates.”  They were like a second family to her. We always knew Mom was well taken care of, which gave us peace of mind.

Mom passed away peacefully on March 22, surrounded by her four children and her granddog Marley. Her final days were made so much easier by the attentive and caring nursing and care aid staff at the Cranbrook Hospital.  We would like to thank them, along with Dr. Lunge, whose kindness and concern for Mom was always much appreciated. 

Mom is survived by her children, Louise, Toni, David, and Frances, her daughter-in-law Virginia, and many nieces, nephews, and close friends. We will all miss her very much.

 In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Kimberley Public Library, Cominco Gardens, Knowledge Network, or the BCSPCA.

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer at Wasa Lake.