A Candle for Katheren Szabo

Katheren Szabo, recognized as a Surrey Woman of Courage in 2019, has decided to take a courageous exit from the world today around 3pm pacific. Katheren confronted sexual violence and abuse, poverty and neglect, resulting in serious health issues yet she continued to contribute to community life with positive actions developing poetry, art and community. Here’s a tribute to Katheren by Vancouver author Zoe Dagneault: ‘Katherine Szabo: the Heart of Newton’.

The following email was received last night from Newton’s community garden, one of the projects supported by Katheren:

WHAT: PLEASE LIGHT A CANDLE FOR KATHEREN SZABO and HER FAMILY
WHEN: NOW AND ANYTIME THROUGH TUESDAY DECEMBER 12 @ 3 PM
MORE: PLEASE TAKE A PHOTO AND EMAIL IT AT: gardens.devine777@gmail.com

‘Tuesday, December 12, at about 3 pm, one of the edlders of Garden PLOT, Katheren Szabo, plans to access MAID. medical assistance in dying, ‘a process that allows someone who is found eligible to be able to receive assistance from a medical practitioner in ending their life.’ Katheren was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer earlier this year and it has spread through her body and has most currently and aggressively spread to her brain. In accordance with her wishes, a very caring MAID nurse that Katheren has made a connection with, will be present with her as her time comes.
‘If you feel called, please light a candle for Katheren, now or anytime leading up to her departure from her earth skins about 3 pm Tuesday December 12. The act of lighting a candle will be a great assist on many levels, and together with loving intentions or prayers in the way you are called, we will lift up our Elder Katheren. The images will also be offered as a way to send our love and support to her family.
‘As we light our candles, let’s envision and lift Katheren up in love and see her going to the light. This precious human has been through much in her years, more than most of us could ever imagine, and she has fought so hard for her life, for her voice and has learned how to speak for the vulnerable and those who are not able to speak for themselves. Katheren has endured and worked very hard to transmute the trauma of unconscious and hideous acts. Her voice became a voice both for herself and for others, especially children. I believe it is her legacy and her work that lays tracks to help heal all humankind, and both victim and perpetrator, through her work as community leader and advocate.
‘The list of efforts and work for and in community by Katheren is great and includes sixty day drumming vigils running five years in a row, in the Grove in Newton, for community healing to name just one.’
Teresa Klein

Farewell Katheren! Thank you for gracing us with your beauty, vision and activism.