Obituary for Kaye Kathleen Tupper
Margaret Kathleen ‘Kaye’ Tupper nee MacLaughlin
Kaye was born on March 24, 1924, in Hopewell NS to Donna and Fred MacLaughlin. She had one brother, Earl MacLaughlin and a sister Rita Mae who died in infancy. Her family lived an unpretentious life in Hopewell, her father was a coal miner who worked in the Stellarton NS mines until he was afflicted with what became known as ALS. Kaye attended high school in Stellarton where she excelled, always at the top of her class. Her favourite teacher was Anne Olding who she said, “Brought out the best in me” and her scholastic achievements are a testament to the importance of good teaching. After graduating her brother Earl generously paid her tuition to attend business school, she would later accept a position as bookkeeper at a small grocery store in Stellarton run by Frank Sobey. Kaye met and married the devilishly handsome Leslie Basil “Tup” Tupper in 1945 and they moved together to Halifax. Tup had recently returned from the war in Europe where he served as a tail gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
They decided that Tup would remain in the military and this meant the family was continually transferred to new postings in different parts of the nation including New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Their initial posting was to Ottawa where first child Beverly was born. Her favourite posting was to Holberg BC, a small village in northern Vancouver Island, this was her favourite posting because of the closeness of the community and because it was where Christopher her 4th and final child was born. Kaye would collect friends in each new place she lived and consequently when the family travelled there was always friends to visit. In addition to raising a family Kaye worked as a medical records technician at various hospitals in the places she lived. Eventually Tup took health-related early retirement and they moved first to the MacLaughlin family home in Sylvester NS and later to MacLennan’s Mountain NS. In their retirement Kaye and Tup travelled frequently and spent their summers at the family cottage in Malignant Cove NS. When Tup’s mobility became an issue their son David, and his wife Cheryl built a beautiful addition to their house in Coquitlam BC and Kaye and Tup moved there. While Kaye loved British Columbia she remained a proud Nova Scotian throughout her life. After 10 great years together in Coquitlam Tup passed away at age 82 which was remarkable considering the medical problems that dogged him in the last half of his life. He was missed by all his family, and it left a huge hole in Kaye’s life. Before long she reconnected with an old family friend, Peter Simpson, whose wife had also recently passed away. The two of them travelled and eventually moved in together. They kept each other company for almost a decade before Peter’s medical condition became acute.
Kaye was a social person, always eager to engage strangers in conversation and was wonderfully inquisitive. Mobility became an issue and it became increasingly difficult for her to get out, fortunately her family and friend Shannon Power would take her on auto trips around the lower mainland, the States and even a Caribbean cruise. Eventually she needed an increased level of care that was difficult in her home and with the help of her doctor she was able to secure a place in Foyer Maillard. While she was initially hesitant about her new home she grew to love it there, particularly enjoying interacting with the Foyer community including the staff, residents, and her friend Roger.
In recent years while still cheerful her health declined. Her ability to recall details became a source of frustration and for a person who prided her intellectual capacity this was an awful blow to her - though it wasn’t that evident to those around her.
Kaye had a terrific life and lovingly raised a wonderful family, while things weren’t always easy, she always made the most of her life. She liked to laugh, tell stories and have a good time, and that’s the way Kaye would have liked to be remembered.
Kaye passed away in the afternoon of Friday December 10, 2021 in Coquitlam. She was predeceased by her husband Tup, her parents Fred and Donna MacLaughlin, her brother Earl and sister Rita Mae.
She is loved and missed by her family: children - Beverly Louise Tupper (John), Fort Fitzgerald AB; David Leslie Tupper (Cheryl), Coquitlam BC; Jon Laughlin Tupper (Ingrid), Victoria BC and Christopher Lawrence Tupper (Michelle), Bashaw AB. One cannot blame her for being proud of her grandchildren - Tara Dawn Frederick, Edmonton AB; Justin Fredrick, Williams Lake BC; Kyle “Tup” Tupper, Banff AB; Clive Tupper, Fort MacMurry AB; Seth Tupper, Fort McMurray AB; Shelly Nowell, Goodwater SK; Shane Boutilier, North Delta BC and her great-grandchildren- Cavan Pace; Morgan Frederick; Hayden Frederick; Eli Frederick and Lliam Chivers. Kaye is also missed by her sister in law Jo Ann Vaughan Nichols, Red Deer AB; brother in law Jack Tupper, Sundre AB and her nieces and nephew Karen Tubb, Stewart Tupper and Julie Shaw.
A celebration of life is being planned for what would have been Kaye’s 98th birthday March 24th in Coquitlam. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Foyer Maillard or the charity of your choice.
Kaye was born on March 24, 1924, in Hopewell NS to Donna and Fred MacLaughlin. She had one brother, Earl MacLaughlin and a sister Rita Mae who died in infancy. Her family lived an unpretentious life in Hopewell, her father was a coal miner who worked in the Stellarton NS mines until he was afflicted with what became known as ALS. Kaye attended high school in Stellarton where she excelled, always at the top of her class. Her favourite teacher was Anne Olding who she said, “Brought out the best in me” and her scholastic achievements are a testament to the importance of good teaching. After graduating her brother Earl generously paid her tuition to attend business school, she would later accept a position as bookkeeper at a small grocery store in Stellarton run by Frank Sobey. Kaye met and married the devilishly handsome Leslie Basil “Tup” Tupper in 1945 and they moved together to Halifax. Tup had recently returned from the war in Europe where he served as a tail gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
They decided that Tup would remain in the military and this meant the family was continually transferred to new postings in different parts of the nation including New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Their initial posting was to Ottawa where first child Beverly was born. Her favourite posting was to Holberg BC, a small village in northern Vancouver Island, this was her favourite posting because of the closeness of the community and because it was where Christopher her 4th and final child was born. Kaye would collect friends in each new place she lived and consequently when the family travelled there was always friends to visit. In addition to raising a family Kaye worked as a medical records technician at various hospitals in the places she lived. Eventually Tup took health-related early retirement and they moved first to the MacLaughlin family home in Sylvester NS and later to MacLennan’s Mountain NS. In their retirement Kaye and Tup travelled frequently and spent their summers at the family cottage in Malignant Cove NS. When Tup’s mobility became an issue their son David, and his wife Cheryl built a beautiful addition to their house in Coquitlam BC and Kaye and Tup moved there. While Kaye loved British Columbia she remained a proud Nova Scotian throughout her life. After 10 great years together in Coquitlam Tup passed away at age 82 which was remarkable considering the medical problems that dogged him in the last half of his life. He was missed by all his family, and it left a huge hole in Kaye’s life. Before long she reconnected with an old family friend, Peter Simpson, whose wife had also recently passed away. The two of them travelled and eventually moved in together. They kept each other company for almost a decade before Peter’s medical condition became acute.
Kaye was a social person, always eager to engage strangers in conversation and was wonderfully inquisitive. Mobility became an issue and it became increasingly difficult for her to get out, fortunately her family and friend Shannon Power would take her on auto trips around the lower mainland, the States and even a Caribbean cruise. Eventually she needed an increased level of care that was difficult in her home and with the help of her doctor she was able to secure a place in Foyer Maillard. While she was initially hesitant about her new home she grew to love it there, particularly enjoying interacting with the Foyer community including the staff, residents, and her friend Roger.
In recent years while still cheerful her health declined. Her ability to recall details became a source of frustration and for a person who prided her intellectual capacity this was an awful blow to her - though it wasn’t that evident to those around her.
Kaye had a terrific life and lovingly raised a wonderful family, while things weren’t always easy, she always made the most of her life. She liked to laugh, tell stories and have a good time, and that’s the way Kaye would have liked to be remembered.
Kaye passed away in the afternoon of Friday December 10, 2021 in Coquitlam. She was predeceased by her husband Tup, her parents Fred and Donna MacLaughlin, her brother Earl and sister Rita Mae.
She is loved and missed by her family: children - Beverly Louise Tupper (John), Fort Fitzgerald AB; David Leslie Tupper (Cheryl), Coquitlam BC; Jon Laughlin Tupper (Ingrid), Victoria BC and Christopher Lawrence Tupper (Michelle), Bashaw AB. One cannot blame her for being proud of her grandchildren - Tara Dawn Frederick, Edmonton AB; Justin Fredrick, Williams Lake BC; Kyle “Tup” Tupper, Banff AB; Clive Tupper, Fort MacMurry AB; Seth Tupper, Fort McMurray AB; Shelly Nowell, Goodwater SK; Shane Boutilier, North Delta BC and her great-grandchildren- Cavan Pace; Morgan Frederick; Hayden Frederick; Eli Frederick and Lliam Chivers. Kaye is also missed by her sister in law Jo Ann Vaughan Nichols, Red Deer AB; brother in law Jack Tupper, Sundre AB and her nieces and nephew Karen Tubb, Stewart Tupper and Julie Shaw.
A celebration of life is being planned for what would have been Kaye’s 98th birthday March 24th in Coquitlam. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Foyer Maillard or the charity of your choice.