Clara Strauss De Catz

In addition to the in-person service at the cemetery, the funeral will also be live-streamed. To view the service virtually, please go to https://smclive.ca/ on Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of CLARA STRAUSS DE CATZ on May 27, 2024. She was the cherished wife and partner for 74 years to the late Alex Zuni Catz, and devoted mother of Marcelo, Laura, and Mariana. She was the best “abuela” to Jonathan, Benjamin, Felipe, Ethan, and Pedro, and great-grandmother of Akiva and Solomon. Clara remained fiercely independent, with her sharp mind and generous spirit until the very end.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1932, Clara was always ahead of her time, an eccentric, and an accidental feminist. She pursued a career at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Buenos Aires. As children, in an era without technology or social media, we fondly recall spending days off school with her, exploring books and playing with the photocopier. In the early 70s, she fearlessly traveled alone to Machu Picchu, Europe and Egypt, defying societal norms for married women in Latin America. Clara was politically active during the tumultuous 70s, risking her personal safety for what she believed in – labor rights, gay equality, and democracy.

Clara’s life was marked by resilience in the face of adversity. She faced metastatic breast cancer in her 40s when survival was rare, the horrors of Argentina’s military coup, and the trauma of having one of her children abducted and secretly held by the junta for eight agonizing months in 1978. She even beat COVID at age 90. Forced to emigrate to Canada with Alex in 1980 to safeguard the family, Clara rebuilt her life in Toronto, finding beauty in the everyday despite deep personal, financial, and professional losses resulting from a difficult immigration. In her last years, when her failing body kept her captive at home, she read voraciously and took university courses via Zoom.

A lover of beauty in art, design, fashion, theatre, books, music, and all things that pleased the eye, spirit, and intellect, Clara was also a fitness enthusiast since the 1950s, long before it became trendy for women to work out. Until the pandemic began, for 40 years in Toronto, she was at the YMCA at 5:30 a.m. sharp every day, every season. The most fantastic chef, her meals were epic and always ahead of trends, making her own duck confit or profiteroles when few dared to venture into such culinary territory. We all have wonderful memories of her entertaining at home or in our cottage on the Delta River, always open to strangers with flair and warmth.

An extraordinary “abuela” to all her grandchildren, Clara shared her passion for the arts, books, and adventure with each of them, fostering special bonds through Cirque du Soleil, the AGO, and opera outings, among many other experiences. All who met her fell in love with her generosity and striking beauty. She was always up for any challenge; one never dared her, as she would jump right in, as she did when she met our dad when he saw her beauty from afar and dared her to ride his motorcycle when she was only 15 and he was 20, and the rest was history. She traveled the world on her own throughout her entire life and joined her children and grandchildren on many of our own travels and vacations.

Her generosity, striking beauty, and indomitable spirit will live on, leaving a deep impression on all who had the privilege of knowing her.

We extend heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Grant and Dr. Morrison, as well as her caregivers Joy, Celerina, Marylou, and Rochelle whose compassion eased Clara’s journey to the end.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jewish Free Loan, https://jewishfreeloan.ca, Kids Help Phone https://kidshelpphone.ca or a charity of your choice.