Kerri Ann Ashley

Peacefully, on Friday, December 11th, 2015, Kerri Ann Ashley, passed away surrounded by her family and friends, at St. Anthony’s Hospital, The Pas, Manitoba, at the age of 46 years. After a lengthy stay in HSC, Kerri returned home to spend her final days surrounded by her family and many friends. Each and every visit, phone call and message brought a smile to her face and meant so much to her.

Kerri was born Sunday, October 19th, 1969 in The Pas, Manitoba. She lived her life in The Pas until she moved to Saskatoon to take her schooling at Marvel Beauty School. Upon graduation, she returned back to the home that she loved in The Pas to begin her career. She worked with and alongside many special people as she gained her experience to become our favorite hairdresser. Kerri’s clients were many, and she took the time to get to know each and everyone of them, making each person feel like a friend. She even continued visiting and “doing their hair” when some could no longer visit her at the shop, she went to them. She took great pride in her work and enjoyed making each and every person happy and feel good about themselves before they left. Kerri continued to work, battling though her illness until she could work no more, and even then she still felt bad that she was letting her clients down.

Kerri spent most of her time with the love of her life, Rob and their beautiful golden retriever, Rusty. Kerri and Rob had 18 short but wonderful years together in The Pas. They shared many special times together and enjoyed their walks with Rusty and many Sunday drives. Rusty brought great joy to Kerri even when she spoke of him. Thankfully she was able to spend a few moments with Rusty when Rob brought him to the hospital just as she was arriving home from Winnipeg. That short visit brought a smile to her face and joy to her next few days. Our special thanks to the wonderful ambulance attendants that let us pause for a few moments to let her get a kiss and a hug in from Rusty. That was a very special moment for her to have.

Kerri was very lucky to have her lifelong friends, Cheryl and Carrie in her life and to help her through this difficult journey over the last few months. They held a special place in her heart and her life. The three of them were like sisters and shared many memories and special life events together. Thank you to Cheryl Neveux and Carrie McDuff for all of your care and compassion that you both showed to Kerri throughout her illness, and for being there with us through the end.

Family was very important to Kerri. Throughout her life she always had family around her, in good and bad. Growing up she shared many special times with her own family, she was lucky to have her grandparents live right next door, and spent many “family dinners” together with Aunts, Uncles and her cousins Dean and Michelle, Keith and Kent, especially having many special times around the “kiddie table”. We were never quite sure when we graduated from that table to the “big table”! Perhaps we changed the big table into a permanent kiddie table once Kerri’s nephew’s joined the picture. Brett, Luc and Ty were very special to her. Watching them grow into young men and sharing many special times together meant a great deal to her. She always made sure that she made our Mom’s special cabbage roll recipe for them, sharing a little bit of the grandma that her nephews never had the chance to meet, and as a special bonus she often showed up to dinner with her scissors and an apron to cut their hair, knowing that they “needed” one.

Kerri is survived by her partner, Rob Stone; father, Jack Ashley Jr.; sister, Karen (Murray) Haukaas; nephews, Brett, Luc and Ty; aunts, Margaret Rock, Lois (Dennis) Brownlee, Donna (Earl) Belton; cousins, Keith and Kent; Dean and Michelle; Terry, Dennis and Gary; mother-in-law, Joyce Lamb; brother-in-law, Ryan (Brenna) Stone; nephew Khail; niece Rheanna; and her four-legged friend Rusty.

Kerri was predeceased by her mother, Leslie Ashley; grandparents Jack and Blossom Ashley, Roy and Irene Gunn; uncle Gerald Rock; cousin Kimberley Rock; stepfather-in-law Bev Lamb.

We would like to thank all of Kerri’s family and friends that helped her through this difficult time in her life. Everyone’s calls, messages and visits meant so much to her, knowing how loved she was. Thank you to the BMT Unit team who tried their very best and helped make Kerri’s time on GD6 as comfortable as possible. To Dr. Marie Noel for her special care and kindness over the years but especially in the last few months, to the wonderful nurses, Bev and Leslie in the chemo unit here in The Pas for their kindness and guidance, and to the nurses and doctors on the 2nd floor during her last few days. Special thank you to Beth Benson for your guidance and compassion shown to Kerri and to her family during her final hours.

In keeping with Kerri’s wishes, cremation took place and a service of remembrance to celebrate Kerri’s life was held Monday, December 14, 2015, 1:00 pm, at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, The Pas, Manitoba, with James Hemauer presiding. Memories of the heart were shared by Cheryl Neveux and Carrie McDuff.

Immediately following the service, a reception was held for family and friends, at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall.

A private family interment took place at Lakeside Cemetery, The Pas.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Pas Health Complex Foundation, Inc., Memorial Fund, Palliative Care Division, Box 541, The Pas, MB, R9A 1K6, would be appreciated by Kerri’s family. It is our hope that more rooms can be created to help other patients and their families in our community to provide comfort to all.