Barbara passed away peacefully in Victoria, BC after a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her children, Daniel, Diane (Michael) Gillis and Jim (Barbara). Lovingly known as Nana Babs, Nana Darling and “Great” Nana, Barbara was so proud of her grandchildren, Max Gillis (Krystal), Kate Wright (Philip), Spencer Gillis (Daniella) and Taïgan Coffey and great-grandchildren, Claire and Tyson Gillis and Charlie Wright. Her greatest pleasure was received spending time with her family, friends, volunteering, and travelling the world. She worked for many years with the homeless in downtown Toronto and Victoria. Barbara was an inspiring model for a life well-lived and will be missed by many.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
A Celebration of Life will be held in Ontario when appropriate guidelines allow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your charity of choice or; St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON; Doctors without Borders; BC Cancer Agency or Victoria Hospice, Victoria, BC. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com.
26 Responses
But me and my true love
will never meet again
on the bonnie bonnie shore
Of Lake Balsam,
We were both born in 1933
We were both piano students
taught by the same teacher
Summertime of 1940 on till 1944
In adjacent cottages was
where we mainly met, though
our families were friends
elsewhere before and after that.
We took turns playing an old
pump organ in my cottage on which
sat our plaster busts of famous composers
Barb said she thought I was like Beethoven,
who said that music was the mediator
between the spiritual and the sensual life,
though of course I didn’t know that then,
however right it seems in retrospect, since
I can still see clearly in my mind’s eye
what a beautiful little girl she was.
Ross Crate, C.A., C.P.A. a.k.a.”sourpuss”
Rory and I were so sad to hear that your mom passed away. Our thoughts are with you and the rest of the family
Sincerely,
Christine and Rory
Dear Diane, Jim and Daniel, and all your families,
We send you our deepest sympathies as you adjust to the loss of your wonderful mother, Nana, and Great-Nana. Barb was a good friend and kindred spirit to my mother Annie Stirling. They knew each other through their work with homeless women in Toronto, and later through their love of Mexico where they shared many winters together in Barra de Navidad. It was through my mom that we met Barb 16 years ago. We were lucky to have her here in Peterborough in recent years, and to share many lovely times with her in Barra and in San Miguel de Allende. Barb became a cherished part of our lives and we mourn her passing with you. One couldn’t spend any time with Barb without knowing how deeply loved and valued you all were to her. May you take comfort in knowing you were the loves of her life. Sincerely, Jan Stirling-Twist and Huel Twist, Peterborough Ontario
Diane and family,
We are so sorry to hear about your loss. It’s so difficult to lose a mother and a best friend! She will be remembered as a beautiful, classy, kind lady. Sending our love!
Danny and Anne Brown
Barb was my mother Lillian’s best friend. They were like sisters and Barb became like a beloved aunt for myself and my brothers. We’re so very fortunate to have been able to count her as part of the family. I will miss her extraordinary combination of an easy-going, good-natured disposition coupled with finely-honed practical wisdom.
It was a blessing to be able to refer to this fine lady as Auntie Barb and it is my hope that come this Sunday she is upstairs enjoying Sunday dinner with Bob and Joy!! A kind person who will be missed greatly by those who knew her and the baker of the most killer chocolate cake ever!! Thanks for being a part of my life!!