Obituary of Kathleen Anne Wells

Kathleen Anne Griffin Wells

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Markham Stouffville Hospital in Markham, Ontario, aged 62 years, after a short and brave battle with cancer.

Kathleen was born in Montreal on the first day of summer, June 21,1962, the first-born and dearly-beloved daughter of Luanne O’Connell Griffin and J. Peter Griffin of NDG. She was the oldest sister to Susan Burdey, Sharon Kent, Laurie Richer and Megan Sinclair and wife of the late Bradley David Wells of North Vancouver, B.C. who predeceased her in 2020. She was the devoted, beloved mother and best friend of Cody Peter Wells of Markham, Ontario. Kathleen was the first grandchild of the late Molly and Art O’Connell and Peggy and Dodie Griffin of Montreal.

Kathleen lived in Montreal, North Vancouver and Markham. She attended Handsworth High School in North Vancouver and Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario, where she graduated with honours in Journalism. She worked as a respected news reporter for the Toronto Sun for several years and then the Markham Economist & Sun after Cody was born. Highlights included being a member of the press corps covering Princess Diana’s 1991 visit to Canada, a trip to Ethiopia and a flight in one of the Snowbirds’ Tudor Jets.

The pinnacle of her career was as Senior Manager of Marketing, Communications and Brand at York Regional Police where she was much loved and admired as a “trailblazer,” building her department into a highly-respected unit across the region. She was also a member of the Senior Officers Association. Along with the media releases, each year she produced the Police Calendar and the Annual Report. She also coordinated the Police Appreciation Annual Banquet where she won the 2016 Leo McArthur Recognition Award. Deeds Speak!

Kathleen was a champion ringette player, in Quebec, B.C. and Ontario. She loved to ski, play baseball, ride horses and was a huge Leafs fan! Jeopardy was her favourite show. She was a voracious reader and her library was the envy of many. She was a stickler for proper grammar and spelling - just ask her co-workers! Most of all she loved music and singing and harmonizing with her family.

She was predeceased by her beloved father Peter and her dear aunts Judie Griffin and Chickie Smith. She is survived by her mother Luanne, her four sisters and her aunts and uncles, Christine and Jim Cosman, Richard O’Connell (Kathy), Robert and Rosalyn Griffin and her nieces and nephews -  Anna Burdey (Greg Wysman), Jack Burdey, Troy Kent, Jamie Kent, Charlotte Richer, Nolan Sinclair and Travis Sinclair;  also survived by her much-loved cousins - Marnie Smith, Danny Smith, Jennifer Cosman (Nolan Ellis), Matthew Cosman, Amy O’Connell (Dale Esson), Michael O’Connell, Tim Griffin (Melinda), Colin Griffin, Jennifer Griffin (Ryan Szaraz) and several cousins in Montreal, Ottawa and Dublin, Ireland. She was daughter-in-law to Marion Wells, the late Russell Wells and sister-in-law to Judy Wells (Kit Bjornson), aunt to Chris and Leah, and friend to brothers-in-law, Mitch Burdey, the late Trevor Kent, Don Richer and Shane Sinclair.

Kathleen’s funeral will take place on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Dixon-Garland Funeral Home, 166 Main Street North, Markham, Ontario L3P 1Y3. Visitation from 11:00 a.m  to 1:00 p.m. with service to follow in the chapel. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Canadian Cancer Society or The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society or a charity of your choice.

                                                                                                                             SHE WILL BE FOREVER MISSED