 "My
philosophy of life isn't complicated. In fact, it's so simple,
it's comforting: Givers gain. Our inner world creates our
outer world. I am committed to life-long learning and growing,
to help people with passion and enthusiasm."
- Kat Downey
With a lifelong commitment to the enhancement of the life
experience, Kat Downey is a comforting and capable presence
in her role as a preplanning funeral director and insurance
advisor.
Having earned her degree in human biology from the University
of Guelph and Bachelor and Masters of Education degrees from
Queen's University, she taught physical education and science
for the Durham board of education at Donevan Collegiate in
Oshawa before she recognized her true calling was in providing
any and all services related to pre-need and at-need funeral
planning.
But, before her calling came to her, she and her husband
Dale made a bold move in celebration of life: they each took
a leave of absence from their thriving professional careers
to travel the world by bicycle. Together, they pedaled their
way over 6,000 km and across 14 countries, observing the life
experience from many different vantage points as they traveled.
And together, they determined every second of life was worth
living - and anything we could do to alleviate stress, experience
the ultimate moment and live in the present, was worth its
weight in spiritual gold.
Upon returning to their homeland in Ontario, Kat had an epiphany
that embraced her natural instincts to help people. When the
opportunity arose for her to attend Humber College's Funeral
Services Program, she welcomed it, completing her licensing
examination in 1998.
Though death is an essential component of the total human
experience, funeral planning might seem, to some, a topic
to be avoided. But Kat's clients have found her service quite
the antithesis of this, delivering to them a hugely relieving
cognitive release once those inevitable decisions are actually
behind them.
And, along with her expertise in the funeral industry - that
includes international arrangement capabilities - Kat has
enhanced her knowledge base to include a variety of insurance
needs of all kinds, and perhaps most significantly, in the
area of travel insurance in the event of unexpected death.
Kat's also completed the Core concepts in Palliative Care
Parts I and II and the Bereavement Facilitators program through
Hospice King-Aurora; where she is a visiting volunteer and
Bereavement Facilitator. More recently, she acquired her Level
I and II Life Insurance Licensing requirements.
An active volunteer and networker with a number of organizations,
Kat is widely recognized as an upbeat, honest and capable
professional who leaves her clients feeling cared for, validated
and secure.
When Kat's not working, she enjoys attending auctions and
rummage sales, antique restoration, and stained glass creation.
Whether she's working or not, she and her husband Dale raise
their three lovely daughters, and their cat Snickers, from
their home in Aurora.
"I want everyone I meet to know that, without
question, they can approach me, in confidence, with those
tough questions, or for any information they might need. If
I don't have the answers, I'll find them." Kat |
