Kerstin (Overstrom) Birch

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kerstin (Overstrom) Birch on February 26th just prior to her 94th birthday. She left this world in dignity and respect surrounded by family. She is predeceased by her loving husband Robert (Bob) Birch.

Kerstin was born in 1932 on the Quebec North Shore in a small company town, Clarke City, to parents Einar and Margit Overstrom. She grew up speaking Swedish at home, English in school, and French with her many childhood friends. She was proud of her family roots and her loving hometown. She maintained some of her early childhood friendships throughout her life.

Kerstin was raised in a small town but began her life travels early as she travelled by boat each year to attend high school in Quebec City. Summers were then spent in Clarke City with her friends, her brother Carl, and sister Barbro. She had an outgoing personality, loved meeting new people, dancing, laughing, and being active in any community she lived in.

In 1953, after completing her studies at the Grey Nuns College in Montreal, she was working at the office of the Clarke City Pulp Mill when she met a newly-minted Bishop’s University graduate by the name of Bob Birch. Prior to marrying Bob in 1955, she travelled to Europe with her sister Barbro to explore the sites, but essentially to meet their parents’ families for the first time in Sweden, Aland and Finland.

Once married, she and Bob started their travels together, residing in numerous locations in Maine, Quebec, Ontario, and Newfoundland. Along the way she had her children Stephen (Carolle), Margie (Jim) and Thomas (Nina).

She was a loving mother, household nurse, reader of children’s books, baker, chef, seamstress, Cub Scout leader, hostess, family camper specialist, Scrabble expert, and the list never ends. When her oldest child was age 17, she said “I am going back to work”. A few years later when living in Baie d’Urfé, and her children had finished university she announced it was her turn. She maintained her day job and attended Concordia University graduating with a degree in Social Studies.

When her grandchildren arrived on the scene, she was an enthusiastic grandmother. Shawn (Katie), Ryan, James, Leah, and William became an integral loving part of their Nana’s life. She and Bob loved hosting family and friends at the family cottage north of Morin Heights in ski country by the lake. It was open to all and filled with laughter, love, and energy. Summers on the lake, and winters sliding down the family's death-defying luge run form part of our memories.

After Bob’s passing, Kerstin remained active with family, golf, skiing, church activities, bridge groups, travelling, lawn bowling, attending theatre shows near and far, and kayaking (Masters Competitions even into her 80’s). She was very adamant about maintaining her independence.

In 2022, Kerstin left the Montreal region and moved to the Beacon Heights Seniors Residence in Ottawa to be closer to family. She was active in the Beacon Heights’ social programs for seniors and even at this stage in her life she was still very competitive.

Kerstin’s family wishes to express its thanks to the staff at Beacon Heights for their assistance in Kerstin’s care over the last few years of her life. The family also wishes to express its thanks to the caring medical professionals of the Ottawa Civic Hospital for allowing our mother to depart in a dignified, kind, and compassionate manner. Words do not suffice.

The family will be holding a celebration of Kerstin’s life in June to be followed by interment of Kerstin’s ashes beside her late husband Bob Birch in Melbourne, Quebec.