Guest Speaker: Katherine Downey

Katherine (‘Kat’) Downey M.ED. CEA

Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, Oakville​

This month, we are delighted to welcome Katherine (‘Kat’) Downey, a local Funeral Director responsible for funeral pre-arrangement planning. Born and raised in Oakville, Kat has been associated with Kopriva Taylor since 2000 and was affiliated with the Funeral Service Education Program at Humber College as a Sessional Professor. Today, Kat is educating & informing us, not selling her own program.

Prior to joining Kopriva Taylor, Kat taught at High School and College. Since 1998 Kat has continued to educate people about the emotional and financial advantages of thoughtful end-of-life planning. She is also a Certified Executor Advisor.

Many of us plan ahead in life. We plan for our wedding, our children’s education, family vacations, the routine of monthly bill payments and other significant expected life events and obligations. We also plan for the unexpected events of life by purchasing home, auto and medical insurance. What we may overlook or postpone, however, is the financial planning and preferred event administration for our own final farewell. Understanding the benefits of planning ahead in an informed and sensitive way, whether using a professional, or, where permitted,family led funerals¹ has prompted a growing number of Canadians to take the step to becoming more involved in planning their own arrangements, or those of other loved ones.

Today’s conversation with Kat will be focused on choosing to plan the arrangements for our final farewell ahead of time, particularly if we haven’talready done so, in order that our close family members, carers and other significant members of our social circle are aware of our wishes.

Professionally, Kat contributes to the perinatal bereavement program, the Bereaved Families of Ontario, and is a faculty member for Age Friendly Businesses and Certified Professional Consultant on Aging. Welcome Kat!