Obituary of Catherine "Cathy" Margaret Brillinger

To view a recording of the livestream of the service, please CLICK HERE

Peacefully, and surrounded by her family, Catherine Margaret Brillinger passed away on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, just one week shy of her 80th birthday, after a lengthy battle with endometrial cancer. She was born in Hamilton and raised in Stoney Creek.

Cathy was predeceased by her parents, Grace and Charles Paul. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Peter Brillinger, and by her three children, Laura Aldworth, Paul Brillinger, and Michael (Mike) Brillinger. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Kiera, Charlie, and Sienna; her son-in-law, Randy; and her daughter-in-law, Hye Sook.

Cathy was a devoted stay-at-home mother for many years. She also taught Business Studies at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School and Elmira District Secondary School. “Mrs. B” was more than an exceptional teacher—she was an ally and confidant to many students. Even after retirement, Cathy stayed in touch with former students, sharing warm embraces, fond memories, and lots of laughter.

She was known for her warmth and kindness. In recent weeks, several of her children’s friends reached out to share their love and gratitude, often calling her their “second mom.” While sometimes shy, Cathy was most often outgoing and loved to chat. She could strike up a conversation with complete strangers, who quickly felt comfortable telling her their life story.

Cathy had a strong moral compass, a keen interest in antiques, and a deep curiosity about the world. She was also passionate about politics and the democratic process—so much so that she expressed greater concern about voting in the upcoming federal election than about reaching her 80th birthday on April 14th.

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Friday, April 11, from 1 – 3 p.m. The funeral service will take place in the chapel of the funeral home Friday at 3 p.m. A livestream and recording of the service will be made available on Cathy’s tribute page at www.erbgood.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer charitable donations to Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, the Victoria Order of Nurses of Grey Bruce, or

Victoria Hospital's Regional Cancer Centre in London. And, Cathy asked you to vote.