Obituary of Barbara Anne Coupal

COUPAL, Barbara Anne (nee Cruden) It is with great sadness that the family announces Barbara's passing in Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on Monday, December 13, 2010 at age 66, following a valiantly fought, three-year siege from pancreatic cancer. Barbara is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 41 years, Charles and her dearly devoted daughters, Julia and her husband Thomas Carter and Amy and her husband Bradly Ohlman. Barbara was a loving and gentle grandmother (Ama) to Elliot and Oliver Carter. She is also survived by her wonderfully devoted sister Helen (Sis) Anderson and brother William Cruden. She was predeceased by her son John and brother Joseph Cruden. She was an especially dear and precious wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many. Barbara treated all with kindness and respect, and held out a helping hand to many, especially those who lived with disabilities, through her personal commitments and active volunteer work in community and church groups. She embraced high standards of Christian conduct throughout her life. She practiced physiotherapy in Toronto and in Oxford, England and was a director of New Visions Homes, SPRINT and POINT. More recently, she was active in the Yonge Gogos (Zulu for grandmothers) projects assisting African grandmothers' efforts to support their children and grandchildren afflicted with AIDS. Barbara endured her illness with a courageous and positive attitude, with the support of exceptional medical practitioners and dearly devoted friends. We thank all who gave her such excellent care and support over the past three years. We especially thank Dr. Yoo-Joung Ko and his nurse Sharmy, Dr. Debbie Selby and her nurse Patricia, as well as the chemo nurses at the Odette Cancer Centre for their great professionalism and compassion. Special thanks also go to Dr. Leslie Beyers and her assistant Jean, Dr. Linda Xu, Dr. Jennifer Shapiro at the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care and the wonderful team on K1-E at Sunnybrook. We are deeply grateful to all friends and family who provided love, support and care. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17. Funeral Mass will be celebrated in BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH, 24 Cheritan Avenue, Toronto on Saturday, December 18 at 11:00 a.m. If desired, memorial donations made to the Sunnybrook Foundation, for the Odette Cancer Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, P.O. Box 26317, STN BRM B, Toronto M7Y 4R1, would be much appreciated by the family. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.