Kate Venne

Mary Catherine “Katie” Venne (nee Fleury) was born at home in Selby Town @ Ste. Madeleine, Mb to Eva Vermette and Joseph Fleury on December 23, 1940. Kate passed away quickly and began her journey to the Spirit World on Thursday October 16, 2025 at Russell Hospital surrounded by her family and friends.
Kate had 4 siblings Maurice, Mary, Eugene and Allan and 3 others Alf, Dorothy, Isabelle that later came to live with them and they became a blended family.
She was predeceased by 4 of her babies and 2 brothers Maurice and Eugene, sisters Mary and Isabelle, sister in law Nancy, and brother in law Melvin and also her husband Albert Venne and their son Alan also by the love of her life Pete Nicolajsen along with their furbaby Sheba.Her granddaughters Kaitlyn Smith, Alicia Venne and grandson Kevin DeMontigny, her also left to the spirit world before her along with numerous family and friends.
Katie was a very strong resilient Metis woman, our Matriarch who was very proud of her culture and heritage and put all the love and devotion she had into making sure Ste. Madeleine and our ancestors were honored and never forgotten.She assisted  in the planning every year of the Annual Ste. Madeleine Metis days, many times out of her own pocket and her restaurant donations, which she started working on with her dad Joe Venne and friend Annette Dreilich for the 1st to be held in July 1990.
Kate was very involved with the Manitoba Metis Federation and the Ste.Madeleine Heritage Local for over 50 years holding multiple Executive positions throughout the years and as a respected elder in the Metis Community.  She also sat on the LAC Board representing the Southwest Region for approximately 8-10 years and a very proud member of the Infinity Women's Secretariat since its beginning.
When Kate passed she was a well respected Elder representing the Local at meetings, consultations and Gatherings and delivering opening/closing prayers.
Kate had unfortunately only received her grade 8 education and as life happened she was married at the very young age of 15 to Albert Joseph Venne and began their life together in Minnedosa and Franklin area and later Albert's job as Foreman for the Canadian Pacific Railway brought them to Whitemouth Mb where they lived and raised their children for 9 years before life changed again and they went their separate ways.
This brought Kate and her children back to Binscarth and Ste.Madeleine and reunited her  with her mom which she hadn't seen much since she left home at 15.
Kate raised her 4 children Carol, Alan, Andrew and Kim on her own in Binscarth with the help of her mom Eva and the only dad she really knew and loved, well respected Ste. Madeleine Elder Joe Venne as her biological dad passed when she was 8 yrs old
Kate started work at the 580 Hotel just after moving back home and worked as a cook/waitress/bar tender for many years and known in the community for her smile and laughter and in the 1990s her life long dream of owning and operating her own restaurant became a reality.The first few years she shared ownership with her good friend and sister in law Dina Ledoux and was called K & Ds Restaurant.
Later her and her partner of 40 years Pete Nicolajsen leased and owned Kays Restaurant together and was known for her famous Cheeseburgers and cooking in general.
5 years after moving back to Binscarth and working hard and constantly almost everyday it paid off as she saved enough for a down payment on a new house for all of her kids and although it took many years it was HERS and she did that as a strong Metis Momma.
She and Pete retired from the restaurant when the building was sold.  They enjoyed each others company and taking many trips together even if some of them were just to Bingo in Yorkton, Brandon or Regina or many many yard sales.  They travelled west many times and Pete gave her a life she may not have had and for that she was grateful.  They took care of each other and when Pete developed dementia mom cared for him for almost 10 yrs before he had to live in a nursing home as it progressed.
Kate leaves behind to mourn her children Carol, Andrew (kids Lance & Lacey), Kim (kids Chris, Kyla & Curtis) and Georgette and Norman (kids Kyle Kalli) along with grandchildren and great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

Prayers were held for Kate on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 7:00 pm from St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church in Russell with Fr. Paul Bisson officiating.  

A Funeral Mass was held for Kate on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:00 am from St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church in Russell with Fr. Paul Bisson officiating.  

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