Vera Eleanor Aller
1935-2026

Vera passed away peacefully and with grace on January 26, 2026. Beloved daughter of William and Genevieve Aller, deceased. Sister of Catherine Aller-Brooke (Mark), and sister-in-law of Ann Aller. Predeceased by her brothers Martin Aller, William (Billy) Aller, and Lawrence Aller (Margaret). Survived by her daughter, Kathleen Arnold (Mike) of Markham; her sons Ian Gaffney of Edmonton and Mike Gaffney of Cornwall; and her four grandchildren Cynthia, Lydia, Rebecca and Philip. Born in Thunder Bay, Vera met her husband, John Gaffney while stationed with the RCAF in Edgar.  Most of their family life was spent in Cornwall. Later in life, Vera moved to Kingston, obtaining a Bachelor of Education Honours degree from Queen’s University. Upon graduating, she taught elementary school with the Waterloo County Board of Education. After her retirement, she became a reading tutor, fostering literacy skills and sharing her love of books and the world of imagination. An active member of PROBUS, she also enjoyed attending concerts and movies, and vacationing with her family and friends. She loved tending to her home garden and watching the hummingbirds who frequented her feeder. Vera left a lasting impression with everyone who met and knew her. A heartfelt thank you to her good friend Karen Peterson as well as the staff at Parkwood Mennonite Home in Waterloo for their care and compassion to Vera during her final years. A private ceremony will be held.

In memory of Vera, please consider supporting the Vera Aller Bursary to support mature students in Arts and Science, with preference given to students in the Department of English Literature and Creative Writing.