Feb. 18, 1922 – Nov. 15, 2020
Arie Kavelaar always saw the light of music, which he loved to share. Arie was born in The Hague, Netherlands and during WWII he shared his music by playing in the Salvation Army Band. Following the War, he met his wife Majo (predeceased) and they went to New Zealand (NZ) via the Band. Arie played guitar and Majo played the mandolin.
They settled in NZ and introduced Arie Jr., Dirk and Helena to the world before travelling to South Africa, Holland and finally landed in Canada. They found their home in Caledon East and Arie has always said, “Canada is the best country”. He believed this because of the space and the ability to raise your family in freedom.
Arie was 18 years old during WWII and has shared many stories. He was a mechanical engineer being a ‘precision maker’ by trade and his first job when immigrating to Canada was at De Havilland as a Tool and Die Maker.
He always supported his 3 children and 4 grandchildren, Arie Jr. (Maribeth); Dirk (Debby); Helena (James); Devon (Phil); Heather (Andrew); Brody (Marissa); Braeden (Megan)….in all of their aspirations. This included all sports of interest and there was no holding back! He invented and manufactured the 1st fastball pitching machine for the 1980 Chinguacousy Midget Provincial Fastball team and his involvement led the team to win the Canadian Championships. Bravo!
Arie lived his retirement years in Wasaga Beach and Florida where he met his wife Diane. They led an active life with tennis, aqua fit, dances, and they loved going to the beach.
Arie had a fine tune, like a Mozart waltz. Some of Arie’s musical talents were playing the Trumpet, Trombone, Sitar, Guitar, the French Horn and singing in choirs. He also conducted many concert bands. His smile, confidence, and honesty inspired us all. Thank you for being you!! You will be missed. Love your family.
A private family memorial service will be held at Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen Street S. (Hwy. 50), Bolton.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Jean Van Tichelen
Helena and Kavelaar family
Sorry for your loss of Arie. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Hold on to your many memories. Rest In Peace Arie.
Sharon and Larry Scott and Family
Arie was such an interesting and fun-loving person who loved to share stories of his life. His high energy level was always an inspiration. One couldn’t help but be happy around Arie. He brought great joy to many. It was so clear how much he loved his family and how much they loved him!
Sandi Belford
I’m so sorry to read about your Dad. Sending you a big hug Helena. Your Dad was your biggest fan. ❤️
Lynne
You were an inspiration Mr. Kavelaar. Always a smile and a positive attitude. I honestly thought (and hoped) you’d live forever. To Helena and family, I hope you are taking comfort in the large life he lived and the unconditional love and joy he spread around to virtually everyone. God bless.
Carole Fitzgerald
My sincere condolences to the entire family. Mr. K was one of a kind! Loved to see his smile and zest for life! I fondly remember him cheering you on Bopper. What an amazing life he had ❤️❤️
Barb Gross
Sweet Leni,
My condolences to you and your family.
I thank your dad for introducing us in Fort Myers. I shared many good times with him and you.
May he RIP
Love Barb xo
Pamela and Justin Arrowsmith
We are sorry for you loss. Our deepest condolences to you and yours.
Bolton Physiotherapy
Helena, our thoughts are with you and you family at this difficult time. May he Rest In Peace,
Sincere condolences,
Your Friends at Bolton Physiotherapy
Christine
Dear Helena,
Please accept my condolences on your father’s passing and may Your father’s spirit be with you forever.
Sandra Panezutti
Helena, Dirk and Arie..and Families, my deepest Condolences, I spent alot of time with Helena growing up, so many happy times with your family..God Bless..Hilltop Drive…xo RIP…Thinking of you all !
Liisa Winfield
So sorry for your loss, Helena & family…. Your dad was influential in many lives in so many ways. He will be remembered fondly always in our hearts with great memories. RIP Arie
Liisa Winfield
Helena and family, so sorry to hear of Arie’s passing. He was an amazing man, influential without the grandeur, and a genuine gentleman with a big heart. I will always remember him at the ballpark cheering us on! RIP Arie, you will be missed.
Kathryn Lockyer
Deepest sympathies on the passing of your father. May fond memories bring you comfort during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Take care, Kathryn Lockyer
Maureen Webster
Condolences to you and your family Helena at the loss of your father. He certainly lived a long and fruitful life and has left you with many wonderful memories. Maureen
Jeff and Yvette Reynolds
You and your family are in our hearts and mind. Our condolences on the passing of your Father.
Bob & Lori Borlin
Wow! What a wonderful life! Would have loved to met your Dad. So sorry for your loss Arie. Lori and I will keep you and your family in our prayers.
Pearl
Helena and family
I was sad to hear about Arie’s passing. My thoughts are with you in this difficult time. Your father led a very full and productive life with loving family members. I hope this is of some comfort to you and may the memories you have, be cherished always.
Jennifer and Gary Neville
Arie was a very happy person with a bubbly and engaging personality. We loved conversing with him and learning about his interesting experiences. He was the great, gentle Patriarch of a wonderful family. We send our sincere condolences.
Hans en Trudy Evers-Fabrie
Our sincere condolences for the family. He will be missed. I remember his visits to the Netherlands, visiting his family. He always stopped by at my parents for a visit and overnight stay. Always joyful and full of live. Sincerely interested in his Dutch relatives. May he Rest In Peace.
Gayle Fitzgerald
Helena, my thoughts are with you and your family at this time. You had a great Dad, always remember that he was one in a million. He was always smiling and enjoyed every day it seemed. He was special. Those that crossed his path were lucky to meet and enjoy his company.
Cheri Cowan
Dear Helena, Jim, Braedon, Brody and all the family – my sincerest condolences. Although I never met Arie, Helena shared many stories and I was always so impressed thinking if I live to a ripe old age I want to be like him. Thank heavens we have our memories to keep our loved ones with us in our hearts and our thoughts. You will have so many memories because he was an incredible Father, Father-in-Law, Grandfather and Husband. What a talented, amazing man – what a loss. xo
Fay McCrea
Dear Helena and family:
Your father was a very special person and you spoke of his accomplishments often. He had a wonderful, long life and how great to know how much he loved Canada.
You will miss him but will have many memories.
Sincerest Condolences to you all
Sharon
Our heartfelt sympathies from the family in South Africa…Germany..England..Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Jennifer Hesketh
Dear Bo, so sad to hear the news of your Dad’s passing. You were all so lucky to have him close for so long. I hope your happy memories will give you comfort and keep him in your heart always. May the band play on!
Best, jenn xo
Gary Boyce
Dear Helena and family,
My sincerest condolences to the entire family. Many wonderful words will be spoken and written about Arie .
As a neighbor, a friend and a softball fan, I am so proud to have spent time in his company.
Arie will be sadly missed by all.
Rest in Peace.
Carol Seglins
Dear Helena and family
My sincere condolences to you and your extended family on the passing of your father Arie. I remember how often you shared stories of how wonderful and supportive your dad was, especially for your athletic endeavours.
He will be missed by so many.
Sincerely
Carol Seglins
Debbie & Ron Marshall and family
Helena, Jim and family
We are so sad to hear of your fathers passing. Our sincerest condolences to all of your family. May he RIP.
xo Deb, Ron, Courtney and Kyle Marshall
Phyllis and Arthur Geller
Dear Diane and family,
What an amazing life Arie led! We only met Arie in his later years at Indian Creek Park when we had the privilege of enjoying his music and playing tennis with him. He also strung many tennis racquets for us.
We especially enjoyed attending the dances with him and Diane! Arie dressed like a fine gentleman at all of the dances and we last saw him at the 2019 New Year’s Dance when he looked so handsome!
May Arie’s memory be a blessing for you all!
With our deepest sympathy,
Phyllis and Arthur Geller
Toni and Jack
We truly have enjoyed knowing Arie. Our condolence to his childeren and Diane. We met Arie and Diane in Florida 18 years ago, both of us being from Wasaga Beach, what a coincidence and have been friends ever since.
Eleanor & Gerwin
Dear family, we think of you and sympathize with the passing of uncle.
Uncle has meant so much to us. He stood up for me like no one else could and surprised us with his French horn to cheer us up. There are also many happy laughable moments that we will cherish and never forget. Thank you Oom, we are thankful for having you in our life.
Love to Diane and family.
Carla Van Leeuwen
Dear Diane and family
My sincerest condolences for your loss. I met Diane and Arie through my parents in Fort Myers, as well as in Wasaga Beach. Arie was always kind , friendly and always made laugh, I will always remember him so fondly.
Rest In Peace Arie
Carla VanLeeuwen and family
Amelia Straton
Please accept my heart felt condolence. I am so glad that Arie had such a full life. Sending prayers of comfort to you all.
Rocco DeGasperis
Maribeth, Arie and family, my deepest condolences for your loss. May he rest in peace. Sending my prayers to your entire family.
Sheila Tutty
Dear Helena, Saddened to hear the passing of your father. Witnessed many hours of your Dad using the pitching machine in the back garden.Our condolences and sympathy to you and your whole family. Sheila and John Tutty
Carlene James
Dear Diane and family
My condolences
Met Arie at Aquafit he was such a pleasant person.
Linda Huncar
Arie will be missed at AquaFit. He always took the lead in the Village People’s Y M C A and got everyone involved. Hugs to you, Diane, during this difficult time.
Sheila Tutty
Dear Helena, So sorry to hear about your father’s passing. Many good memories of him using his pitching machine with you in the back garden and his love of tennis. Condolences and sympathy to all the family. Sheila and John Tutty
Giovanni Pizzoferrato
To Maribeth and Arie.
On Behalf of Julia and I, we’d like to express our sincerest condolences and sympathies to the family.
Jeff Tyrcha
Maribeth and Arie – So sorry for your loss. I hope that the rich life you father led can be remembered fondly and retold over and over again. I lost my father so long ago but I still hear his voice and ask for his advice all the time, I hope you can do the same.
Rick Davis
Spirit of all spirits. Grand at being all the Father figures. Such calm. And such a great parent. God bless.
Rick, Darlene, Sarah and Sidney.
Mahesh J
Maribeth and Arie.
Deepest condolences for your loss. May your father rest in peace and hope those wonderful moments spent with him will give you comfort.
Supriya and I send our prayers to your entire family.
Jill Jones
Helena,
My sincerest condolences to you and your family. My prayers are with you in this very sad and difficult time.
Jill
Ana Garcia
Maribeth and Arie,
Please accept our warmest condolences, we are deeply sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Ana G
Tina Blekemolen
Dear Diane and Family,
Diane I feel blessed to have known Arie he was a very special person he was also the best Pool Dancer ever.
May your own happy memories be a source of comfort to you now,With love and blessings.
Tina
Justine Laprun
Dear Maribeth,
I am sorry to hear the news about your father in law.
I am sending you and your husband my sincere condolences .
Best from Hong Kong.
Justine
Elka and Family
We are so sorry that Oom Arie has passed. What a beautiful description of his life. You must be so proud of him! What joy he has brought to all.
Wynette Ward
Maribeth, Arie and family,
Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. I hope it brings you some comfort knowing the beautiful and full life that he lived.
Stephen Kavelaar
Dear Arie, Dirk, Helena and family, I sent you our condoleances. We feel sorry to hear that our uncle Arie died. We have good memories to the time that all of you lived in Oegstgeest Holland, before leaving to Ontario Canada. I remember my holidays in 1978 in Canada.
Uncle Arie was the last of the Kavelaar family still alive, always kind and tender.
Stay strong. A lot of family greetings, also from Paul and marianne (unfortunately died in 2014)
Stephen (stephenkavelaar@hotmail.com)
Stephen Kavelaar
Dear Arie, Dirk and Helena,
I wroet that marianne died in 2014. But it was Peter. Excuses for this failure
Kind regards from us all, Stephen
Hella Visser
Hallo family in Canada,
Although it has been half a year, my condolences with the loss of uncle Arie.
I heard of his deceace recently from Marianne Kavelaar the niece of my late husband Arie Visser.
Arie Kavelaar(uncle) and Arie Visser(nephew) got along quite well. They both played the euphonium.
I am very sad to hear uncle Arie has gone. I remember him as a very friendly sympathetic person.
Hold on to the memories!
Kind regards,
Hella Visser