Obituary of Kathleen Broer van Arragon

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September 8, 1962 – December 3, 2025

Kathleen Broer van Arragon passed away suddenly, but peacefully, at home, shortly after going to bed for the night.

Kathleen is survived by her husband, Paul van Arragon, her two children, Saskia van Arragon (Steven Johnston) and Lukas van Arragon, her grandchild, Caleb Johnston, her mother Linie Broer, and by her siblings John Broer (Tricia Broer), Brenda Broer (Scott Petrie), and Wilma Heersink (Imre Heersink).  She is predeceased by her father Dirk Broer.

Kathleen was a pianist, an organist, a teacher, a historical interpreter, and a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister.

She taught at various schools in the Waterloo Region District School Board, the Peel District School Board, and at McMaster University.  Many of her fondest memories were of her first teaching assignment, at John Darling Public School in Kitchener, Ontario in the 1990’s, where she brought music to many elementary school children and taught language arts.  In later years, she expanded into teaching English as a second language, and enjoyed the challenges of teaching students who arrived into her classrooms with little to no English skills from countries in turmoil.  At McMaster University, she taught a variety of courses relating to music and language.

She was a wonderful musician, whether accompanying on the piano, directing choirs, playing organ, or singing in choirs or congregations.  She took great pleasure in her role as organist and choir conductor at several churches, including her most recent posting at St. George United Church.

Although she is mostly thought of as a teacher and a musician, she had a great interest in history, and seemed to have a personal relationship with every historical figure of medieval Europe.  In her twenties, she worked as a historical interpreter at Dundurn Castle in Hamilton.  She returned to her interest in history in recent years and devoted much of her time to the preservation of heritage sites in Ontario.  She loved to go in person to see restoration projects, and took the opportunity of driving on the back roads to monitor the crops and animals on local farms, another of her interests that stemmed from her childhood.

But her deepest joy came from her love for her family.  Her favourite activity after becoming an Oma was to spend time with her grandchild.  Her enthusiasm was boundless for reading books, singing songs, and speaking to him in foreign languages.  On days that she was scheduled to babysit, she would wake up in the morning and declare happily that it was a “Caleb Day”.

Visitation will take place at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S, Waterloo, on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Funeral service will take place at First United Church, 16 William St. West, Waterloo, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. Reception to follow in the church hall.  Private family interment will take place before the service.