It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our Mother, M. Barbara Duncan. Barb passed away peacefully, with great courage, in Victoria BC, at the Lodge at Broadmead on Sunday, April 30, 2017 after a full and rewarding life of 90 years.
Barb was born on August 27, 1926 in Barrie, Ontario, the first of four children born to parents Col. Gordon and Dorothy Cousens. Sister Pam, brother George and brother Colin followed in short succession. The family made their home in Georgetown, Ontario.
At the young age of 18, she enlisted in the RCN as a Navy Wren, stationed first at Sydney NS, then Halifax and subsequently transferring to HMCS Discovery in Vancouver and finishing her service at Naden in Esquimalt. She always said that becoming a Wren was “the best thing she ever did next to having her children”.
After the War, Barb returned to U of T and completed her Physiotherapy degree. She married on September 11th, 1948, and along with husband Keith, raised their family near Georgetown, Ontario. In the mid 70’s, Barb moved to Victoria, BC to be near some of her children who had already gone west. Barb had always loved Victoria since being stationed there near the end of the war.
A loving woman who will be missed by many and will always be in the hearts of her daughters Janet Wyllie, Ellen Ross (Don), Maureen LeBlond (Real), Kelly Duncan (Philip Bartlett) and her son Greg Duncan also of Victoria.
She will be missed by her nine grandchildren Nathan, Cameron, Colin (Sara), Bryce (Crista), Simon (Leah), Patrick (Crystal), Mathieu, Kalyn and Trevor as well as by her three treasured great grandchildren Thomas, Sylvie, and Hudson.
Barb served Canadian veterans in many ways since she retired from the Gorge Road Hospital where she had been the Activation Director. Her volunteer work was recognized in 2006 when she was awarded the Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation. She was a Legion Service Officer working with the Ex-Service Woman’s Legion till 2008 and other Victoria Legion Branches up until 2012. Barb was part of the team that organized the ‘memorial plaques’ at Langford Veteran’s Memorial Park honouring all women veterans serving during WWII. She worked tirelessly in seeing that the 2010 ‘Navy Lady Rose’ project was a success. Barb was kind, loving and always helping others in remarkable ways.
Special Thanks to Dr. Ted Rosenberg, Dr. Ben How and all the nurses and caregivers at the ‘Lodge at Broadmead’ and the ‘Cridge’, who all provided exceptional and devoted care for our mother Barb over the last few years.
A Celebration of Life for Barb will be held at McCALL GARDENS, 4665 Falaise Drive, in Broadmead on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 1.30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made through the BC/Yukon Command Legion Foundation in support of Cockrell House, which was one of many veteran projects that Barb supported. Cockrell House is operated by the non-profit SMVIZ Veterans Housing Society which was formed in early 2009. https://www.legionbcyukon.ca/content/give-legion-foundation
Condolences may also be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
17 Responses
Our condolences to all of Barb’s family. Barb was a exceptional person and a wonderful neighbor. We were privileged to have known her!!
Nothing but the best of Memories and utmost respect for such a wonderful person.
Rest in Peace Aunt Babs
Doug, Debbie, Scott and Sean Cousens.
Sending love and sympathies to her children, Greg, Janet, Maureen, Kelly and Ellen, and their families, and brother Colin and sister Pamela.
Over the years my mother and Babs had become close, sharing family news mostly by letter, since Babs was in Canada and my mother in England. Since childhood I had heard about Babs and her warm, generous spirit, and was fortunate to eventually meet her at the Cousens’ family reunion she arranged in 2006 in Guelph, Canada. After my mother passed on in 2007, I began to look forward to regular conversations with Babs.
Babs was my father’s – Lewen Tugwell – first cousin. Her father Gordon was brother to my Granny Mysie (Marion), and my Grandfather Basil Tugwell was Babs’ godfather. Babs thought family was SO important! She was able to pass on stories of her grandparents – my great-grandparents – only vaguely known to me and went so far as to mail me a suitcase with their family albums – on loan for a year!
What a generous loving spirit! May she rest in peace.
It has been written that the tide recedes, but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand,
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land,
The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains….
For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains,
Her loving, warm, kind spirit will remain forever.
Greg and his sisters. Condolences from Rick and Carolyn.
Our sympathy and best wishes to all of you at this time – Barbara was a wonderful and kind woman. We cherish our memories of time together with her at the cabin, visits to the North Shore to be with her North Shore grandsons: Simon, Patrick, and Mathieu. And of course, we will also remember the many cozy handmade socks she would lovingly knit and share with us over the years.
With love to all of you,
Alison, Jules & Jérémie
My condolences to Barbara’s family. Of all life’s blessings, Barbara’s role in my life has been incalculable. I did not serve with her during the War, but became one of Barbara’s coterie of friends and one of those she helped in so many ways.
I often remember her visit to Ottawa. She was in a wheelchair then, but we made our way up to the roof of the Canadian War Museum to view the Memorial Plaque (funded by the WRENS across Canada and installed October 2005 in the Year of the VET)/
Under the WRCNS crest it reads (in both official languages):
To commemorate the WRENS
who served in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service 1942-1946
motto “TO FREE A MAN FOR SERVICE AFLOAT”
and on the right, is a large outline sketch of a WREN of the sculpture
by WREN Frances Gage’s. It is in Cambridge, ON (formerly Galt)
the locale of the Training Base HMCS Conestoga
(WREN) Elsa D. Lessard, Ottawa