Beloved matriarch and wife, proud Canadian war veteran, an athlete, a lifelong learner, an expert bridge player and style setter, a devoted and progressive Catholic, and an inspiration for all who knew her, Barbara loved life and lived it enthusiastically.
Barbara Monahan was born in Toronto, the second eldest child of five in 1919 to Beatrice and Thomas Louis Monahan. She recalled wonderful times in her youth, swimming and boating, skiing, competing in sports, living in a castle in Ireland riding her horse, Paddy. She attended Loretta School, worked for a period of time at the Bank of Montreal before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division after the death of her beloved mother, Beatrice. With her excellent memory she recalled many fine friends who were casualties of WWII.
In November for Remembrance Day, Barbara was interviewed about WWII and her involvement as a Wireless Operator communicating with the planes. In September 2023 when she was the VIP at the RCMP Musical Ride, Inspector Mia Poscente presented Barbara with a RCMP Challenge Coin recognizing Barbara's contribution to her beloved Canada. This meant a great deal to her.
She married Harry Webster, also in the Air Force, in 1943, and, at the end of the war, they started their family. Barbara loved to make Harry laugh, and he so admired her energy and her spirit. She encouraged her five children to be active, literate and devoted to family.
Barbara loved to swim and ski, to play bridge, and to take courses in languages and art. She enjoyed a wide circle of friends with varied interests and ages. A regular member of Holy Rosary Parish in Guelph, she contributed to her community through the choir, church groups, the IODE, and Meals on Wheels. When she suffered the loss of her beloved Harry, she relearned how to drive and coped with grief through activity. Barbara won awards for the Senior Olympics in swimming and cross-country skiing and was an enthusiastic drummer for the Guelph Seniors Dragon Boat races.
She loved singing with the Evergreen choir and played bridge there as well. She became a lifetime member of the Evergreen Community at the celebration of her hundredth birthday. She flew to Paris on several occasions (on her own) and enjoyed her trips to Muskoka, first to the boathouse, and then to her granddaughter's place on Lake Joseph. As well she cherished her Sunday drives exploring beautiful areas around Guelph.
When Barbara suffered a setback at the age of 94, she accepted her move to a retirement community gracefully because she didn't want to cause her children difficulties. The Elliott Community soon became her home and she thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the activities and social life there. She continued to reach out to make friends even as she mourned the loss of her friends over the years. With the passing of her wonderful daughter in law Kathy, and a few years later the sudden passing of her beloved eldest, Fred, Barbara grieved deeply, but continued to offer her support to family and to show an appreciation for life. Her deep faith was a comfort to her. She appreciated the kindness shown to her and her family from the Elliott staff, from Father Boyd and church members.
Barbara has always been a force of love and support to grandchildren, great grandchildren and her special great-great grandchild. Barbara will always be remembered for love, humour, resilience and love of life. She had a strong moral compass and faced life's challenges strengthened by her belief in a God of love. She will live on in the hearts of all her family and friends. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Dorelle, her brothers, John and Stephen, her husband, Harry, her son, Fred and her daughter in law Kathy.
She is survived by her daughter Judy, son Tom (Birgit), and daughters, Dorelle (Francis) and Barbara (Stephen), as well as loving grandchildren: Sherri, Paul, Jeff, Stephen, Craig, Simone, Kevin, Andreas and Anthony, David, Sarah and Beatrice, Sky, Leif and Brooke, grandchildren in law, as well as great grandchildren and a great-great grandchild, and her sister Mary Chard. She is remembered fondly by her nieces and nephews in Canada and beyond. She leaves behind many friends from The Elliott Community, from Holy Rosary Church of Guelph and the Guelph area. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the extraordinary love and care shown by the staff at the Elliott Community.
Resting at the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, Dublin Chapel, 252 Dublin Street North, Guelph
where the family will receive relatives and friends for a visitation on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 10:30am at Holy Rosary Church, 175 Emma Street, Guelph, with Father Vernon Boyd official. Burial to follow at Marymount Catholic Cemetery, 5400 Highway 6 North, Guelph.
The Funeral Mass will be available online by clicking on the link found on the funeral home website.
Donations to Doctors Without Borders, The Elliott Community or a charity of your choice in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made in person at the funeral home (cash and cheque accepted) or online atwww.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.
