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RITA BARCLAY
Born: Feb 20, 1938
Date of Passing: Aug 07, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryRITA BARCLAY
Rita was born on February 20, 1938, and left this world peacefully on August 7, 2026, with her loving husband, Peter, by her side.
Rita was born in Lancashire, England and left on the church steps. Rita’s first seven years were spent in orphanages throughout the war years. Rita, and two sisters were separated and never met her parents. Rita was seven years old when she was picked from a lineup and fostered by Jack and Annie Davies and lived in a coal miners’ cottage in Howe Bridge, Lancashire, until the day she married Peter.
At 15 years of age Rita left school and was working in a cotton mill. The Forman told her she could do better for herself and encouraged her to go back to school. Rita kept her job and studied at night school and then became a secretary stenographer and secured a secretarial position with the Lancashire County Constabulary in the Leigh Divisional Headquarters. Around this time, Rita found her sister Jean but lost her again following childbirth. This was devastating for Rita.
On Friday nights, Rita and her lifelong friend, Doreen, would sew dresses and then take "the passion wagon" train to Blackpool and dance the night away in the Winter Gardens and Tower ballroom. What fun they had.
Rita met Peter, a Police Officer, who was transferred to Leigh on Traffic patrol in1963. The kitchen staff got to know of Peter’s crush on Rita and pushed him into the walk-in freezer, pitch black and cold; shortly thereafter, Rita was pushed into the freezer. There was a definite spark between them, because they married in 1965.
Peter and Rita left their home in England and immigrated to Canada in 1966 and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Rita, as a secretary, worked in the Chemistry department of the U of M, Peter with the Winnipeg Police department as a Constable. Rita and Peter grew up with their family welcoming four children - Shane, Dean, Michael and beautiful daughter, Melanie. Rita later worked at Lipton’s, the Bank of Nova Scotia, and then Quality Life Services, the company Peter founded. Rita worked until she was 79 years.
Rita loved ballroom dancing and convinced Peter to have a go. He did, and even with "two left feet" they both enjoyed dancing with Westview Dance Club. Rita and Peter also enjoyed their visits to England to meet with old friends, enjoy a good beer and fish and chips with mushy peas, plus the many cruises they went on.
Nothing, however, was more important to Rita than her family; her children were an incredible blessing to Rita. She will be forever missed by her loving husband, Peter and her children, Shane (Nancy), Dean (Nancy), Michael (Dayna) and Melanie. She will also be missed by her grandchildren, Madison (Yosbani), Mackenzie (Gabby), Zachary (Jackie), Timothy, Andrew (Makayla), Mason and Sawyer. Rita was also blessed with many great-grandchildren including Baia, Zania, Anja and Raymond Mackenzie. Sadly, Rita was predeceased by her precious grandson, Christopher in 2016.
Together, Rita and Peter worked hard and built a strong family and heritage. Not bad, for a couple of kids brought up in wartime England! Rita was dedicated to her husband Peter to the end, just as she has for the past 61 years of married life. For the past 17 months Rita has been a resident in Donwood Manor, and Peter and all family members would like to extend immense thanks to all staff members for their incredible care and kindness shown to Rita, and to Peter as well.
Quite the heritage for a couple of kids brought up in war time, what a heritage.
Rita was Peter’s great love, and she was widely respected and loved by those who knew her. Rita lived a wonderful and fulfilling life loved by all. Laughter was always there, especially with the kids.
In parting Peter said to Rita, "I’d do it all again. Fall for you, get married, have our family and share this life and this love. What I didn’t tell you enough is how grateful I have been to have you as my loving wife".
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at St. John’s Cathedral, 135 Anderson Avenue at 11:00 a.m.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 15, 2026
