Lady Kymn Louise Keating

03/10/1970 - 03/22/2023

Apparently, I was not immortal after all. Though I am sad that I had to say goodbye so soon, I leave this world happy, at peace, and with a feeling that I have lived a hundred year’s worth of adventure in my lifetime. 

Professionally, I enjoyed a rewarding career making and maintaining costumes for the tv and movie industry. My first delve into dressmaking came at eight years old via the instruction of my cousin, Donna, who taught me how to make Barbie doll clothes. I was hooked then and there. 

While I was going to Memorial University, way back in 1988, I was lucky enough to get a part time job working with wedding dress designer Carol Ann Harding. It was because of that experience that, three years into a Math Degree, I decided to switch to fine arts. I transferred to Dalhousie and from there I graduated the Costume Studies Programme, having worked to complete a specialization in 18th century costume pattern drafting and construction. In my third year, I was awarded a scholarship to collaborate on a work-study semester at the (now called) Fashion Museum in Bath, England. Being immersed in the beautiful historic Georgian city solidified my love of all things period costume and travel.

I dabbled in theatre for a short while before I started working in film on IATSE projects with local 849 out of Halifax. There, I learned the skills that prepared me to go off and shoot big budget series in more than a dozen countries around the world. I forged many great friendships with colleagues on a multitude of productions over the years and even though I was often working away from home for months at a time, I rarely felt homesick as there was always a laugh or experience to be had. 

I eventually ended up in Toronto with local 873 where I was privileged to finish out my career working on Star Trek, a show that I genuinely enjoyed, with the most humble of cast and phenomenally talented of crew including a supervisor’s dream of a costume set team. 

My two staple assistants (who prefer to not be named or even perceived) worked long, hard hours with diligence and without question to the high standards of such a production. Don’t tell my boss, but they also made sure that we had a lot of fun at work. They decorated for and celebrated every important and mundane occasion alike. Not a month went by without with gifts from the Hearn Fairy, or a homemade cake, or a countdown to something. Weekly, we religiously celebrated Fries Friday, scratched lotto tickets, collected Kinder eggs, played trivia games, and had in-depth discussions about puppies and dinosaurs. We started our day’s check in and briefing outside the costume trailer with breakfast at our majestic outdoor pavilion known as Margaritaville, an evolving expanse of an empire consisting of Floridian decor with flamingos, music, and its own six foot inflatable Christmas dragon mascot, Terry. 

I have so many happy memories of these two colleagues-come-friends over the course of our six years together. What I want to acknowledge most about them though is how they helped me privately process and navigate my illness for a full year before I even told anyone else that I was sick or even fully admitted to them how sick I actually was. At times I was unable to physically do my job as required and had to lean more than a little on them to get my day done. They just silently stepped up doing whatever was required. They double checked my paperwork and emails, ran interference, and covered off if I just needed time to sit alone away from set. I wanted to quit work on several occasions but neither they, nor anyone else in my department, would have it. Full stop. It was a gift I needed, and I was grateful beyond measure.

After my mom died and I did a little soul searching about life, I decided to take a little break from the hectic schedule of film work to be closer to home and spend more time with family. So, for the next ten years I worked my way up to becoming an Advanced Care Paramedic. It was much more rewarding, yet equally emotionally tolling, than I could have imagined at the onset. With the guidance and comradery of some fantastic partners over the years (especially my Christmas Carol duet partner), I also loved this work. It was difficult to be sure, but I like to think I did some good and had real effect in my community.

I will plug a PSA for anyone who has loved ones currently working in health care or first response: Check in on them. These last few years have been extraordinarily rough for them. Someone you love may not be OK.

According to my mother, I slipped into this world very easily one evening, weighing in at a mere 4lbs, 11oz. Being a little premature, and so very tiny, meant I was sickly from the start and thus I enjoyed a few years of being extra spoiled by my parents and my big sister, Peggy. Then a couple of years later Mom brought home my new baby sister, Kelly, and we became three. Later, my cousin Paul came to live with us girls, and our merry band of childhood siblings was complete. Together we raised/dragged each other up with bumps, bruises, laughter, and love. Despite several destructive wrestling matches, a few crashed bicycles, and one fishhook through a leg, we all somehow managed to survive into adulthood and become educated responsible citizens. They were the best of easy childhood times and having had the four of us together again for daily visits was the highlight that carried me through my last months.

Predeceased by my wonderful Momma-Lou, Emmie Keating, and father, Austin Keating. Predeceased by or leaving to mourn me are my Keating and LeGrow Aunts and Uncles that helped raise and protect me in my youth and who in later years never hesitated to revive those roles when necessary. My numerous cousins who were my first friends, playmates, and role models. They taught me valuable life skills like how to skate, swim, play tag, drive a skidoo and drink beer by a bonfire. Most importantly, they provided that immeasurable sense of belonging that only cousins share.

My immediate blood family: Peggy Keating (Gord), Kelly Foley (Robert), Paul LeGrow (Heather), Jocelyn LeGrow, Marie LeGrow (Wayne), Krista Bareke (Richard), Zachary Basle (Sarah), Jonathan Basle, Shaun Foley, Benjamin LeGrow, Beatrice LeGrow, Joel Basle, and my favourite human, the daughter I didn’t bear, my warm, clever, and beautiful niece, Meaghan Foley. 

I also sadly leave behind a much-loved chosen family of friends sprinkled around the globe. I was so happy that I had the opportunity to meet up or reconnect with many of them again in recent months. I am especially grateful for my new/old friends here in Newfoundland that have made my last couple of years on this earth some of the happiest and most meaningful of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed every beach breakfast excursion, late night conversation, board game, bonfire, jam jam, and Peroni. Ha! Thank you, my lovelies. xx

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held from Caul's Funeral Home, TORBAY on Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 12 noon - 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. A Celebration of life will take place on Sunday, April 2, 2023 from Caul's Chapel, TORBAY at 3:30 p.m. For those unable to attend the funeral, it will be live streamed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/3201749 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in my memory to bridgestohope.ca

 

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