Kathleen Monica Brannen

Our beloved Kathleen Monica Brannen left us on the morning of October 18th, 2025. She was an educator, librarian, musician, internationally trained yogi, and a strong believer in social justice and public service.

Kathleen was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice. She sang all her life, bringing joy to everyone who heard her. While growing up in Weyburn, she performed in choirs, musicals and bands, including the rock band “Stryder”, and she performed solos in music festival competitions in Weyburn, Regina and Saskatoon.

She was a member of the Saskatoon Symphony Chorus, Tokyo International Singers, American Cathedral Choir of Paris, Old Pueblo Madrigal Singers of Tucson, the Greystone Singers of the University of Saskatchewan, Voci Strane, a renaissance acapella group, several recorder ensembles, and Sacbé, a jazz fusion group in Saskatoon. As a classically trained singer, she taught voice lessons and was a valued voice coach.

Kathleen loved yoga. She began exploring the subject when still in high school and later took classes as an adult, and qualified to be an instructor. She continued perfecting her practice throughout her life and loved to share her expertise with her students, creating classes that made yoga available to everyone.

Kathleen travelled abroad to teach English as a Second Language in Tokyo in 1990. In 1993, she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor’s degree in Music, Vocal Performance and then spent a year living in Tucson, Arizona and a year teaching ESL in Paris. Back in Saskatoon she began work in the Music Department of the Saskatoon Public Library, and went on singing. In 2002, she married Dennis McKee and together they had twins Maeve and Wren, siblings for Mitch, Dennis’ son.

In an already very busy life, Kathleen decided she should run for the Saskatoon Public School Board. She was elected and served twelve years, from 2012-2024, as a trustee dedicated to improving the lives of children. In 2022, she was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her valuable contribution to the province.

In 2023 Kathleen became ill, but she continued to sing in choirs and as a soloist. In the last days of her life, with her voice almost gone, still she sang. Thank you for the music, Kathleen.

Born in Weyburn in 1965, Kathleen was the 6th of 8 children born to George and Teresa (Campbell) Brannen. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Shelagh Ann Brannen, her nephew David Sean Brannen and her sister-in-law Sheila McKee.

Kathleen is survived by her husband, Dennis McKee; her children, Maeve McKee, Wren McKee, and Mitch McKee (Ali McIntyre); her siblings: Michael (Leah) Brannen, Anthony (Beverley) Brannen, Esther (Tim) Bangsund, Deirdre (Cal) Albright, Mary Brannen, and Sean (Caron) Brannen; her sister-in-law, Dee Schade-McKee; her brothers-in-law: Michael Schade, Mike McKee, Darren McKee and Donovan (Danielle) McKee; her nephews and nieces: Jeffrey Brannen (Emilie Anderson); Matthew Bangsund; Shelagh Eskra (Aaron Eskra), Harper and Harrison; Elyse Brannen (Chris Forrest), Mila and Reilly; Tom Brannen (Adrienne Tastad) and Astrid; Emily Albright (Mason Ford), Mahi and Roca; Timothy Bangsund (Chewn Bangsund), Florence, Josephine and Zara; Rosa Brannen (Ty Sorowski), Eleanor and Poppy; Ellen Turtle (Ryan Turtle), Georgia, June and Ivy; Aubree Bangsund; Alex Albright (Sofia Bahmutsky); Patrick Brannen (Grace Schenher); Jordan Brannen (Nick Neumiller); Liam Albright (Alannah Vetterl); Madison Brannen; Laura, Ellie, Jane, and Tom Ingram; Sophie, Niki, and Libby Schade; and Stella McKee-Schade; her cousins in Ireland and England; and her many friends all of whom will miss the light and joy that she shared with them.

Thank you for the care given to Kathleen by the staff and doctors of St. Paul’s Hospital, palliative home care, and the community paramedics.

A service to commemorate Kathleen’s life will be held on Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 816 Spadina Crescent E., Saskatoon, SK., followed at 5:00 p.m. by a celebration at the Cosmopolitan Senior Centre, 614 11th St. E., Saskatoon, SK.

We encourage everyone to wear colourful items of clothing to honour a beautiful and colourful life.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Kathleen may be made to the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, 602B 51st St., Saskatoon, SK S7K 7K3 or www.saskatoonsymphony.org/donate 306-665-6414 to continue her musical legacy.