With great sorrow I announce the passing of Barbara Rhoades (nee Fishler), my dear wife of 56 years, on January 18 2024 at Victoria General Hospital. Barbara was born February 4, 1938 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was pre-deceased by her parents Max and Jenny Fishler, her sister and brother-in-law Celia and Jim Harvey, all of Vernon BC, and by her cousin Tirtza Berger and husband Gershon of Toronto. She is survived by her loving husband Darryl Rhoades, by her brother Alroy Fishler and his wife Kay in Penticton, by beloved nieces, nephews and their families in Alberta and California, and by cousin Avi Fishler and his wife Hassia and their family in Israel.
Barbara met Darryl at University of British Columbia in 1966 while she was studying for her B.Ed. A year later they married and set off to Ottawa where they spent the next 31 years, save a 3-year hiatus in Ann Arbor where Barbara earned her M.Ed. from the University of Michigan. She taught elementary school in Ottawa for 18 years, teaching all elementary grade levels at one time or another. In addition to the regular curriculum, she believed it was important to keep an eye on the child’s physical well-being and social–emotional development. She brought much care and compassion to her teaching.
Barbara loved to cook and was an excellent cook. She read recipes voraciously and had myriads of cookbooks and several monthly subscriptions to cooking magazines. She compiled her own large binder of customized favorites long before digitization made it an easy task.
She adored animals of all sorts and could be seen cooing or cuddling those nearest-by, whether Cockatoo or Clydesdale, or her own kitty Purdu, who she cherished immensely.
She loved to travel and saw much of the world with Darryl, including a 6 year stint living in Geneva.
Various health problems made her last 8 years very difficult, but she bore her burdens bravely and never lost her sense of humour, still finding something to enjoy each day. Her passing leaves a large hole and she will never be forgotten by those who loved her.
A Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held in Penticton later this Spring.
Condolences and shared memories may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Gylliane Gervais
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Doron Berger Darryl,
So sorry for your loss. I am left with the few random memories I had of visiting you guys in Nepean or at Amit’s wedding when you all came down.
May her memory forever be a blessing
Doron
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Dennis and Brenda Featherstone Very sorry to hear of the passing of Barb. We enjoyed our social times together in Ottawa in the late 1960s. Never good to hear there were eight challenging health years.
When Dennis has his occasional lunch with Brian, Don and Krishna, we often wonder whether Darryl and Barb are still in Europe or back in B.C.
Both of you folks were not forgotten.
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Clelia Ravier Dear Darryl,
It is with the deepest regrets that I have heard about the loss of Barbara.
I would like to present my sincere condolences.
I have good memories of our times spent together and I am thinking of you in those difficult moments.
Clelia
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Caroline Aldis-Macko I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dear Mrs. Rhoades. She was without a doubt, the best teacher I ever had (Grade 3 at Merivale Public School). She was caring, intuitive, loving, sensitive and yes, she did indeed have a wonderful sense of humor that rounded out her warm and comforting personality. Mrs. Rhoades had such an incredible impact on me as a young child that I too decided to become an elementary teacher myself. She was such a person to aspire to. I am retiring this June and would be so happy to know that I influenced a student even half as much as much as Mrs. Rhoades influenced me. May she rest in peace knowing that she touched many young people in a very positive way with her nurturing heart. I will never forget her …
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Brent and Sharman Watson Barb and Darryl had an interesting and adventurous life together. It was an amazing 56 years.
Barb had such a great sense of humor. She was an excellent cook and we enjoyed her delicious cuisine whenever we went to visit.She definitely will be missed. Our sincere condolences to Darryl and family.
Brent & Sharman Watson
Dear Darryl,
Leonard and I met Barbara only twice, and her intelligence and empathy were evident. These two short meetings were sufficient to make us realize that we would have liked to know her better. Your uplifting obituary has done just that.
Losing a partner with whom one shared so much for so long is very difficult. Leonard and I have been together for 53 years and hope we will show as much dignity and fortitude as you both have when the time comes.
Please accept our deepest condolences.
Gylliane Gervais and Léonard Beaulne
Ottawa