CLARK, Catharine

It is with broken hearts and profound sadness, we announce the passing of our beautiful Catharine “Cathy” Clark (née de Jong), who passed away on August 5, 2026, at the age of 71, after a short but fierce battle with cancer. Cathy is now reunited in heaven with her beloved parents Maria and Jerry de Jong and her cherished sister Ina. Cathy was born on May 9, 1955 to her parents Maria and Jerry de Jong (predeceased). She was raised in a loving family on farm in Neustadt, Ontario along with her seven siblings. Cathy was the second oldest daughter until the passing of her beloved sister Ina at the young age of 10. Cathy had a bond with her siblings that was truly special. Being one of the older siblings, she often took on the role of a second mom, always looking out for everyone. She spoke very proudly of her upbringing and Dutch roots. She always enjoyed meeting other Dutch people, especially when it gave her a chance to speak Dutch again. Cathy leaves behind her daughter, Julie (Jason “Chuck”) Albert; her son, Michael Clark; her beloved grandchildren, Luke, Brooke, Ryan, Kaitlyn, Lynsay and their partners; her loving siblings, John (Nancy) de Jong, Rita (Steve) Shaw, Annette (Kurt) Henderson, Patricia (Rick) Sharpe, Yvonne (Bill) Carroll, and Geraldine (Ken) Rounds; as well as many cherished nieces and nephews and adorable great-nieces and great-nephews. She also leaves behind her dance partner and dear friend Don Antosh, whose love for her was unconditional. Cathy had many joys in life, but some of her greatest were caring for others, her friendships, dancing with Don, live music (the No Name Band being a particular favourite), gardening, socializing, making people laugh, children, and above all, her family. She had a remarkable gift for making people feel loved, welcomed, and cared for. For 40 years, Cathy ran a home daycare in Elora, something that brought her tremendous joy and allowed her to care for generations of children and families. After retiring, she found a new purpose in helping seniors and others in her community. Cathy could often be found driving around town with a car full of people, making sure everyone had a way to attend community lunches and dinners or simply get out and enjoy a social event. At times her daughter would ask her to slow down but she would have no part of it. Cathy expressed that it gives her purpose and she loved doing it. The loss of our mama, mom, grandma, best friend, sister, tante, aunt, dance partner, and friend simply cannot be put into words. Our hearts are broken. Cathy was so much more than any one of these titles could ever describe. To her daughter, she wasn’t only a mom, she was a best friend, confidante, and the person she could always turn to. To her grandchildren, she was a loving grandma who was incredibly proud of each of them. To her siblings, she was a sister, a friend, and the “glue” of the family. The bond they shared was like no other. To her friends new and old, she always greeted them with a smile on her face and embraced them with open arms. Cathy was taken from us far too soon, and it is difficult to imagine our lives without her. There was still so much life for her to live, so much more love to give, and so many more memories to make together. We are forever grateful for every moment we were blessed to have with her and for the countless memories she has left behind. We will miss her laughter, her hugs, her dancing, her phone calls, her stories (sometimes a little embellished), her caring heart, her friendship, and the unconditional love she gave so freely. We will carry her with us in the stories we tell, the traditions we continue, the music that makes us think of her, the gatherings where we feel her absence, and every time we remember to tell the people we love, “I love you.” There will never be another Catharine “Cathy”.  She was one of a kind, and there will always be a special place in our hearts that belongs only to her. Please join us in celebrating this incredible woman at 11:00am on Tuesday, August 18th at the Central Church, 7674 Colborne St, Elora, ON. Reception to follow. A private Interment to take place on August 19th in Ayton, ON. Arrangements entrusted to Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home Ltd., Fergus, ON, 519-843-3100. Visit www.grahamgiddyfh.com for Cathy’s online memorial.