Broger, Kay-Anne (Anderson)

At home, with the love of her 3 children surrounding her, Kay-Anne died peacefully on Friday, July 24.

Born and raised in Orillia, Kay-Anne was predeceased by her loving parents, “Andy” George Alick and Katherine, as well as her best friends and sisters Elizabeth and Janet.

Her beloved husband of 65 years, Eric, passed in 2024 and together they raised 3 children, Kevin (Carole), Andrea (Dave) and Liise (Blair). Nothing brought Kay-Anne more pride and joy than celebrating the accomplishments of each of them and her much loved grandchildren, Alex (Jon), Logan, Darby and Aidan. She was also a much loved Grammy to a collective brood of fur babies.

A devoted and engaged Aunt and Great Aunt, she will be missed by her nieces and nephews whom she held very dear and who in turn adored her.

She was genuinely interested in the lives of those she loved and came to know. Her memory for names and events - intact until the very end - quickly made for wonderful friendships.

Professionally, Kay-Anne began her career teaching Grade One in Orillia at Mount Slaven School. Several years later she moved to Toronto, teaching Grade One at Earlscourt Public School, Princess Margaret in Etobicoke and then leading a Special Education Diagnostic class at Étienne Brûlé Junior School, after obtaining her Master’s in Education.

Although she had many fascinating experiences teaching Grade One, her heart belonged to those children in her Special Education classes whose needs were so varied.

Retiring to Orillia with Eric to a busy life volunteering and travelling, her dedication to RWTO and CFUW included serving in many roles, including Secretary, Treasurer and President.

She will be remembered for the tireless efforts she put-forth in keeping RWTO committed to the betterment, belonging and empowering of members both near and far.

She volunteered as a Teacher of Programs at The Orillia Museum, served on its History Committee, spent over a decade volunteering with the North Simcoe Victim Crisis Services and was an active committee volunteer and executive member with the local Probus Club where many lasting friendships and travel companions developed.

Kay-Anne and Eric were well travelled and had been to all seven continents with trips to Antarctica, South Africa and Australia being amongst their favourite adventures. She loved sharing that she waded into - and out of - the frigid waters of Antarctica when others could not ! For those who knew her well, Kay-Anne could be considered a wee bit headstrong, and during an Australian outback adventure she readily admitted this trait could have been costly. Convinced that she knew the direction back to the parking lot, she and Eric took different paths. When she failed to return, Eric went searching and eventually found her at dusk – her essential eyeglasses had fallen off and into a billabong and she had, of necessity, retrieved them in an area where crocodiles were known to frequent!

Kay-Anne’s family and friends will be forever grateful for her sense of fairness, fierce loyalty, devotion to family and every occasion, cultivation of knowledge and the sharing of thoughts and ideas. She was an incredible hostess, opening up her and Eric’s lovely home to any event with enthusiasm and wonderful touches.

The family would like to thank all who visited, brought homemade meals, phoned, emailed and kept Mom in their thoughts and conversations during her short but valiant fight with cancer.

Our deep appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Mike Odlozinski for his incredible care in Mom’s final weeks.

We are forever indebted to our ‘angels on earth’ home care team - Denise Jarvis, Cayley Winter and Tammy Demers whose loving and exceptional care of Mom allowed for a deep and personal bond with her that provided so much comfort and peace to our entire family.

If you so wish, donations to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society of Canada or any organization supporting wildlife and conservation would be appreciated by the family.

There will be no service at this time. A celebration of both Mom and Dad’s incredible lives will take place at their home on Lake Couchiching at a later date.

Messages of condolence are welcomed at www.mundellfuneralhome.com