Passed away with her family at her side on March 12, 2019. Barb lived her all too short life to the fullest despite a diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer in June 2017. Barb was the loving wife of Clarence Haverson and Mom to Jacob Haverson and Martha Haverson. She is the devoted daughter of Elizabeth Cavanaugh of Brantford and the late Ronald Curtis Lewis (1964). Loving sister of Marion Jarrell of Brantford and David Lewis of Fernie, BC.
Barb was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and grew up in Cornwall, Ontario. Despite living in Cornwall, Nova Scotia felt like home to Barb and her family and they spent many summers at her Na’s house in Five Islands, Nova Scotia. Barb grew up with a love of water and the culture of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland was also where Barb’s cousins hailed from and she had the great joy of sharing adventures with them growing up. Barb had especially fond memories of one summer living in Nelson BC with her Uncle Leland and family, where they went camping in an old tent trailer in a different provincial park every weekend. In Cornwall, Barb, Marion and David spent happy days with their Mom at the Stormont Yacht Club and at the small cottage their father had built for the family on the shores of Lake St. Lawrence in Long Sault Ontario.
Barb went to the University of Guelph and earned her degree in Agricultural Business. It was at the University of Guelph that Barb meet fellow OAC 81 “Aggie”, Clarence. Barb and Clarence shared many friends, dances and laughs as fellow aggies. Barb married Clarence and moved to Thunder Bay in 1985. While in Thunder Bay, Barb realized that her true calling was to be a Registered Nurse, like her favourite Na had been. Barb graduated at the top of her class from the nursing program at Confederation College in 1989 and quickly became a wonderful caring hands-on Registered Nurse.
Barb and Clarence moved to a new home just north of Paris, Ontario in 1991. It was in Paris that Barb started her family, giving birth to Jacob in 1994 and Martha in 1996. Their new home also provided a great opportunity for Barb to hone and showcase her skills as a gardener. Barb continued her nursing career and raised her family with joy and care. She shared her love of the outdoors, camping trips, skiing, gardening, flowers and trees with everyone around her. In 2004 the family pulled up stakes and moved to Guelph. Barb had decided that the family was spending too much time commuting, as Clarence was working in Guelph and she was working in Dundas. Once they arrived in Guelph, Barb quickly found a position as an RN at St. Joseph’s Health Care Centre in the Continuing Complex Care unit. Their new home gave Barb a fresh chance to develop a landscape she loved, growing beautiful flowers and gardens using her time, talent and muscles. She decorated her home with treasured family heirlooms.
Barb was a keen knitter and lover of textiles. After she had retired, she enjoyed her Wednesday morning knitting group at Bullfrog Library. She was a caring and giving person. Her father had been a Rotarian and she introduced Clarence to Rotary while they were in Thunder Bay. While working shift work as an RN made it impractical for Barb to join Rotary herself, she gave freely of her time and talents to volunteer with the events and hands on community work of the Rotary Guelph Trillium, were Clarence is a member.
This past summer Barb went to Nova Scotia one last time, going on a six week camping trip with Clarence in their trailer. She spent a week in Five islands while on that trip. Barb felt great this past summer, and she went on four trips – dipping her toes into both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, visiting friends and cousins, shopping for wool, and spending time close to the water.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at the University of Guelph Arboretum, Arboretum Rd. (Victoria & College), Guelph on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Friends are invited to gather at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Arrangements entrusted to GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph. If desired, memorial contributions to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or to the Foundation of the Guelph General Hospital would be appreciated.