Catherine Siew Yee Sze

Peacefully at home, Sunday March 5, 2023. Beloved wife of Richard KK Sze, mother of Morris and Karen.

Catherine (Cathy) touched many lives. She was born in Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia. She graduated and qualified as an elementary school teacher in Penang, Malaysia. Cathy married Richard in 1962. Cathy and Richard came to Canada in 1969, to provide a better life for her two children. “Your education is important” she would say. “Work hard, you will make it.” Cathy loved children. She established a home based baby-sitting service for many years. While working from home, she completed her ECE diploma from Canadian Mothercraft Society. She worked as a daycare provider and preferred the “baby floor”. Cathy was very resourceful, always practical, and her actions always had reason. She worked from her heart.

Cathy loved to sew, do arts and crafts and go shopping looking for deals. Cathy was a great cook, loved road trips with Richard and loved her afternoon naps in fresh air at camp sites. Cathy’s love for children, gave her son, Morris the inspiration to work with kids and follow in her footsteps in becoming a teacher. Cathy shared her love of dance with her daughter, Karen by enrolling her in ballet classes at a very young age.

Cathy has raised many kids, not just her own two. She is known as “Aunty Katie”. Cathy was proud of all the kids she raised as they have graduated from post-secondary education and are successful in their careers. That is what made Cathy happy; knowing that we have done our best and have accomplished what we want to do in life. Cathy always said “Be Brave”, “Be Strong”, “Take care of each other and your family.” “Mommy/Aunty Katie is always here for you.”

On Mother’s day we wish her a Happy Mother’s day and her reply is “Every day is Mother’s day! Thanks.”

Cathy had a love for dance. She and Richard joined ballroom classes in their senior years and transitioned to line dancing classes. Her favourite ballroom dance is the waltz and her favourite line dance is to the song “Come dance with me.”

Cathy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2015. Cathy was so strong to be able to fight this disease up until the day she left us. Our family want to thank the medical teams that have helped her and her family throughout Cathy’s fight against this disease.

A celebration of life for Catherine Sze is being planned for a future date.

In lieu of flowers to show your support, donations can be made to The Temmy Latner Centre for palliative care Sinai Health , The Alzheimer Society of Toronto or a charity of your choice.