Barbara Dunnigan

BARBARA DUNNIGAN - April 17, 1932 – March 7, 2017
Last Tuesday I said good-bye to my teenage sweetheart, to my wife and partner for over 62 years, to the mother of our children; Sean, Paul (Terri), Frank (Mary Beth), grandmother to Benjamin (Katie), Connor (Kate), Brian (Morgan), Laura (Jesse), Katie, Samantha (Tima), Sean (Sarah) and great-grandmother to Audrey and Nora. Close to the members of our family John (Nancy), Kevin (Leah), Diane (Guy), and Adele as well to many nephews, cousins and friends, who have meant so much to her over the years. Barbara, your mother and father predeceased you, as did your sister Cleta and your brother Justin. You were very like your father, who served and was wounded in the battle of Vimy Ridge in WW1. How lucky was I that you agreed to marry me. You were wonderful. You accepted to move to Quebec City, in a business transfer, with two very young children, learned French and made a host of friends. Same in Trois Rivieres and in Halifax where you joined curling clubs and again, had a great number of friends. You lived your life with grace, beauty and wisdom. You were renowned for your paintings and your love of art which started when you were 10 years old. Your first teacher was Arthur Lismer (Group of Seven) on Saturday mornings at the Musee des Beaux Arts in Montreal. It was refined at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. You also studied modern art under Gino Lorcini in Montreal. As time moved on, you knew and were friendly with so many colleagues and associates in the electrical industry from coast-to-coast in Canada. You were equally at home in embassies in Washington, New York, Paris, Geneva and London in the year we were with the National Defence College (Government of Canada). You also established great relationships with our business associates in England, France and Germany. I was so proud of you. Barbara, you were up to any challenge and ready to take risks. You were a great partner and supporter in our own businesses. You were, as well, so at home with our employees, their spouses and children. You were well loved and respected for your warmth and friendship by all of them. On the way through, you raised three rambunctious and fun-loving sons with skill, wisdom and firmness. Above all you “gave them room”. Barbara, you will be fondly remembered by your friends at the Weston Golf and Country Club,where you joined in 1972, curled and golfed, were a past captain of the Ladies Short Course, and on the Art Committee for several years. You will also be warmly remembered by members and friends at the Meadows Country Club in Sarasota where you were a member for 16 years. Your final days were with the Weston Terrace Community Care where you received professional, compassionate and loving care. Special thanks to Dr. Octavian Pope,
Dr. Diane Leith and Dr. Douglas Cameron at the Toronto General Hospital (Munk Cardiac Centre) The family wish to warmly invite Barbara’s friends to both the Funeral Mass on Saturday at 11 am from Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, 3055 Bloor Street West, and the her Celebration of Life at the Weston Golf & Country Club, 50 St. Phillip’s Road, Etobicoke where lunch will be provided from 1 to 2:30 pm followed by eulogies and a time to share in fellowship with friends and family until 4 pm. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the Toronto General Hospital (UHN) would be greatly appreciated by the family. Please visit our Book of Memories at www.wardfuneralhome.com
Good-bye my sweetheart, my dearest love and rest in peace.