We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Heidi Augusta Melitta McCauley, age 64, on Friday August 5, 2022.
Heidi died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Kitchener, Ontario, from sudden and unanticipated heart failure.
While her own heart failed her, her love and generosity embraced and nourished many others, family, and friends alike. She was one of the kindest and most giving people we have ever known.
Heidi was a brilliant academic, earning a Bachelor of Arts with honours in German studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Arts in German and French from the University of Waterloo. She then excelled as a teacher of French at the elementary and high school levels.
Heidi had a keen intellect and a great sense of humour. She was an engaging conversationalist and had strong interests in books and politics - she rarely missed a chance to work as an election official. She was a Jeopardy virtuoso, regularly trouncing most folks when the program came on, including her father.
Heidi also had a gift for writing. She was an articulate and expressive writer with a lifelong passion for writing poetry, short stories and wonderful letters to family and friends.
Heidi meant many different things to many different people. Her life often was not easy, and she grieved greatly after the recent loss of her loving husband Kevin Hall, who passed away in July 2021. However, at the time of her own passing, Heidi was again at peace with herself, her home, her friends, her beloved dog Willie, and her family.
As a family, we came together to celebrate her 62nd birthday with her on July 8, 2020, and she told us it was the happiest birthday celebration she had ever had. We all had hoped there would be many more.
Heidi was born on July 8, 1958, in London Ontario, to Robert William and Erika Augusta (Hinz) McCauley. She is survived by her son, Matthew Coté and partner Charlotte McLeod, of Montreal; her sister Eva McCauley and partner Ted Leighton, of Bear River, N.S.; her brother Fred McCauley and wife Marimar McCauley, of Kitchener; her nephew Jacob McCauley and fiancée Vanessa Willson, of Hamilton; and her niece Erika McCauley, of Kitchener. She will be profoundly missed.
Messages and condolences may be left at www.tricitycremations.com. Please visit Heidi's obituary notice on Facebook.