BARBARA JANE WATSON (published on February 24, 2010)
| BARBARA JANE WATSON (nee WALSH) February 22, 1921 - February 21, 2010 (Mary) Barbara Jane Watson was born in Whitewater, MB on February 22, 1921; second child of four to John (Jack) and Violet (nee McCarthy) Walsh. She was predeceased of course by her parents but also in this order: her brother-in-law Lloyd Simmons Senior aged 66 in 1977; her sister-in law Sigrid Walsh (nee Johnson) aged 63 in 1988, Sigrid's husband, and Barbara's youngest brother James John McCarthy Walsh, aged 66 in 1994, her brother William Patrick Walsh aged 87 in 2006. Her only remaining sibling is her younger sister, Elva Simmons aged 86, and her nephew and his son, Lloyd and Dustin Simmons of Winnipeg, nieces Barbara Hughes and husband Michael of Ottawa; Rita Eyer, husband John and children Erin and Ryan Eyer of Winnipeg; Patricia Walsh, friend Ken and daughter Madelaine of Winnipeg; Teresa Walsh and husband David Kines of Toronto; and Linda-Marie Walsh, husband Frank Jung, sons Matthew and Jackson Jung of Vancouver. Her father, who was born in Moncton, NB, worked as a station manager for the Canadian Pacific Railway so life as a young girl resulted in several moves throughout southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. At age 17 Barbara headed off to the University of Manitoba to become a dietician. She excelled in the two years of her didactic studies. At the age of 20 she received formal acceptance for her clinical training at the Vancouver General Hospital so off she went. After graduation she joined the Air Force as a dietician and was stationed in Halifax until the war was over. Barbara was employed for over 25 years at Sunnybrook General Hospital, most as the head dietician. In 1973 she began receiving correspondence from the man she had met at age 20 while working part-time at the Tribune. He had never forgotten Barbara and so it was on July 4, 1973 Barbara, 52 years old, wed Bruce Watson and relocated to Dauphin. There she worked initially at the Dauphin Hospital as their dietician and later took on the role as the dietician for that entire Regional Health Authority. Their marriage was a love story lasting 22 years when Bruce passed away. Barbara stayed in Dauphin after his death, continuing her extensive involvement with St. Viator's Roman Catholic Church with the Catholic Women's League, her relationships with so many friends, and with many aspects of the Dauphin community. In 2004 she relocated to Winnipeg to be closer to her family, first living at the Kiwanis Chateau then in 2009 moving into supportive housing at Fred Douglas Heritage House. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 26, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. in the St. Paul The Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 2400 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, with Rev. Fr. Mark Tarrant, presiding. Interment will be held in the Riverside Cemetery, Dauphin, MB. All the family wishes to thank the staff and her friends at Heritage House. The staff members there treated her with superlative care and kindness that will never be forgotten by family members. The family also wants to extend sincere thanks to the incredibly kind, considerate staff of Three North of the Grace General Hospital, the Diagnostic Imaging Department, Laboratory Department, and the chaplaincy. All of these people made her last days the best they could possibly be. Barbara you were an incredible lady, very kind, concerned, astute, fun-loving yet always devout. You are a mentor to us all. REST PEACEFULLY DEAR LADY |
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