Katherine Jane Kaszas

Katherine Jane Kaszas passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 14, 2026, at her home in Windsor. She was 71.

 

Katherine was born on Nov. 6, 1954 in Ottawa to Frank and Sheila Kaszas. Their family lived in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa, with Katherine and her four siblings making trouble wherever they went. Fiercely independent, Katherine spent a year in Holland living with her Aunt Pat’s family before returning to Ottawa to finish high school.

 

Katherine attended York University in Toronto, where she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. It was there Katherine found her calling as an artist and started her lifelong adventure with Paul Anthony Dunlop.

 

Katherine was a strong proponent of new Canadian theatre, which she championed as a director, dramaturg and educator. 
Over her career, she worked on shows at major theatres across Canada, serving as Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival theatre and Associate Artistic Director and Head of New Play Development at Canadian Stage. 

 

She was an educator who believed deeply in the craft and creativity of theatre-making, pursuing teaching alongside her professional work. Katherine relocated to Windsor to establish St. Clair College’s Music Theatre Performance program, leading it as Artistic Director for two decades. She was a brilliant artist with a love of music, a wicked sense of humour, and an eye for light that ran through all her work.

 

Katherine was an avid gardener with a passion for roses, a voracious reader, a deadly Scrabble player, and the best euchre partner. She was a brilliant and beloved mother to her children, a source of unending joy for her grandson, a stern but goofy sister, a cherished aunt, and a trusted friend. Katherine was the love of Paul’s life, his partner in crime, and his best friend.
Her family is bereft at the loss of this incredible woman. 

 

Katherine and Paul lived in love and happiness together for over 50 years, laughing the whole time. Alongside Paul, she leaves behind her four children, Elizabeth, Alanna (Jordan May), William, and Jane (Scott Manley Hadley); her grandson Winnie; her siblings Penny, Candy (Ken Varty), and Steven (Kathryn Kaszas); her nieces and nephews, her best friend Deborah, her beloved dog Fitzzie, and so many more. She follows her parents and her beautiful sister Sheila.

 

A visitation and service was held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on June 25 with the visitation from 12 p.m. and the service at 1 p.m.  Arrangements entrusted to Janisse Funeral Home, Windsor.