BARBARA A. BARBER

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

BARBARA A. (BABS) BARBER Babs lived a long and fulfilling life, well loved by family and highly regarded by friends. Born on June 4, 1923 in Toronto, Babs died peacefully on May 25, 2017 in Victoria. Predeceased by her husband Clarence, and her brother Stuart, Babs leaves a loving and grateful family: sons Paul (Kim Malcolmson), Steve (Ruth Bushell), David, and Alan (Barb Mackenzie). Babs is also mourned by six adored grandchildren: Alex (Sara Lee), Tom (Angela), Jeffrey (Arielle Guetta), Colin (Rebecca Vanderhooft), Laura (George Zahariev), and Carolyn (Adam Currins), as well as two great-grandchildren, Luke and Nora. Babs is also survived by her brother Paul Patchet (Beverley), and sister-in-law Katie Patchet. Babs graduated from the University of Toronto in 1945 and moved to Ottawa where she met and married Clarence. They moved to Winnipeg in 1949, retiring to Victoria in 1985. During their many years in Winnipeg, Clarence (and Babs) enjoyed several lengthy sabbaticals around the world, which fostered a life-long love of travel in them both. Babs' greatest passion was certainly the lives of her children and grandchildren, but she was ardent about many other things too: including good literature, public affairs, cooking for family and friends, writing, and swimming (writing once that her "idea of heaven is my own pool or lake"). Perhaps her greatest joy, though, was art, and she loved working as a volunteer for the Winnipeg Art Gallery, taking prints around to schools to kindle a love of art in children. She loved her life, loved to share the best stories from her life, and was always fun to be with. Babs' family is very grateful to the staff of Oak Bay Lodge, Victoria, for their wonderful care and kindness. Indeed, Babs thought all the world's ills could be solved by kindness. We also thank Leona Gibbs of Serenity Home Care for her love and compassion in helping to care for Babs in the final years of her life. A service of remembrance and celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m., June 9, 2017 at First Memorial Funeral Services, 1155 Fort St., Victoria. Tributes and memories can be shared by visiting www.dignitymemorial.ca/fmfs-victoria/ In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Oak Bay Lodge via the Elder Care Foundation: https://gvef.org/donate/ or to the Victoria or Winnipeg Art Gallery.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 30, 2017