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Obituary of Barbara Shirley Desmarais
Barbara Shirley Desmarais passed away on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the age of 67 years.
Survived by her children, Hugh and Amie Lunny, and grandchildren, Elias, Jamieson, Phoenix and Liam.
Barbara was born in Vermillion Bay, Ontario, on January 29, 1957, daughter of Aime and Juliette (Coutu) Desmarais.
Barb worked in customer service at St. Paul’s Thrift Shop in Golden, BC., from 2014 to 2017, as a cook at The Golden Grizzly in Golden, from 2010 to 2014, as a cleaning lady at Black Sands Camp in Fort McMurray, AB, in 2011/12, as an aesthetician and sales associate at The Hudson’s Bay Company, in Winnipeg, MB, from 2006 to 2008, and as a bannock and specialty baker and caterer at Neechi Foods Co-Op, in Winnipeg, from 2000 to 2006.
She loved being with her grandchildren and, recently, with a little next-door neighbour who called her “grandma”. Barb enjoyed playing cards and participating in family gatherings. She will be greatly missed by her siblings, John Reihl, Bernice Klyne, Louise Champagne, Lionel, Theresa Schmidt, George, and Dennis, and by their surviving spouses, Fran Reihl, Russ Rothney, Catherine Desmarais, Victor Schmidt, Terri Desmarais and Donna Desmarais. She also will be missed by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Barb was predeceased by her parents, by her niece, Renée, and by her brother-in-law, Rick Klyne.
Barbara was very bright and resourceful and enjoyed telling stories about her adventures in the Yukon. However, she endured many traumatic experiences since childhood and years of serious health challenges. She finally succumbed to lung cancer and multiple fractures after a bad fall. She died surrounded by family after a very brief stay at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.
Cremation has taken place and there will not be a public funeral or memorial service.
Donations in her memory may be made to Klinic Community Health, which runs a free, post-traumatic stress counselling program. (donations@klinic.mb.ca)
