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
Barb was my father’s cousin and I know how thrilled he and my mother were to reconnect with her over the last years of their lives. I was fortunate to meet Barb with my family when we visited Victoria a few years ago. We subsequently enjoyed infrequent phone contact through which I came to learn first hand what a lovely, selfless and family orientated person she was.
I feel very privileged to have met Barb.
Heartfelt condolences to her family and many friends.
A little piece of me will travel with you, Aunt Babs, on your next journey……with love, laughter and smiles.
My thoughts are with you all. xoxo
Wonderful memories of Aunt Bab’s will persist and allow me to never forget
Wonderful memories of Aunt Bab’s will persist and allow me to never forget how wonderful she was to everyone who touched her life.
Deepest sympathy to all your family for your loss
Geoff Cousens & family
I was so saddened to hear of the loss of such a wonderful woman and had no idea of all of her lifetime achievements other than being a loving mother, successful physiotherapist, creator of the best soups ever and the neighbourhood ‘go to mom’. This is how I remember her and will always hold her dear to my heart. Thinking of you my dearest and long-time friend Maureen with my sympathy also to Janet, Greg, Ellen and Kelly. Hugs to all.
We celebrate the good times and be thankful for our time together. The scar left when someone leaves us is our reminder of all the joyous memories we had with them. We had so much fun with “Belle Mere”over the last 50 some years. Always the elegant and gracious woman who laughed so easily. She was a grandmother to my children and fought for my Dad, a war veteran. He was so grateful for all she did in the fight to get him the benefits he deserved. Belle Mere formed a special bond with all those she touched. Rest in peace my dear lady.
To Janet, Kelly, Maureen, & Greg,
My heart and thoughts are with you all. Barbara was like a second mother to me. I have 9 pairs of knitted socks to prove it. Barbara was so driven to help, not only the veterans in the RCNA, but all vets. I will always remember her laugh. She has made my life richer for knowing her. She came to my home, she met my family, she held my granddaughter. She was one of us. I felt very sad when I came to visit Barbara on her final day, barging in on Maureen who was at her bedside. I think it was fate that put me there to say my final, “I love you”, to Barbara. It was an honour to know her, a pleasure to be with her, and she will always have a place in my heart.
I will miss her but I am so lucky she was part of my life.
Be well. Ken Levert
So sad to say goodbye to my beloved friend Barbara. She will be truly missed by everyone who had the good fortune to know her.
Barbara was beautiful, outside and in, and memorable for her kindness, her impish sense of humour, and her sincere and unwavering concern for her fellow veterans. She worked hard to help them get the benefits they deserved, even in the midst of her own personal health concerns and physical pain. Her attitude was always one of gratitude, and she perennially displayed the ‘can do’ spirit that made the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service great.
When interviewed about her time in the WRCNS (which she joined very young), she had this to say:
“My time in the Wrens was one of the best experiences of my life. I was a ‘tiffy’ (Sick Berth Attendant), and I remember administering penicillin for the first time, to a British sailor on ‘C’ ward at HMCS Naden hospital, and seeing him survive. To me, that was nothing short of a miracle.
“It (the WRCNS) was also a great experience for me because the post-discharge education credits I received towards my education enabled me to attend university and become a physiotherapist, for which I have been forever grateful.”
Our deepest sympathy goes out to your family in the loss of your beloved mother and grandmother. Barbara was a big part of our lives for 45 years and we will miss her terribly. She was the most kind and loving person we have ever known and was always there to give a helping hand. Even in her own declining health, she reached out to help other veterans in need.
We will treasure our memories of her, as I know all of you will too.
Nancy and Ross Burton and family