Obituary of Barbara Mills

BARBARA DÉSIRÉE MILLS

(nee Conway)

March 28, 1922 – September 8, 2018

Our dear mother passed away peacefully in her sleep in her 97^th year, at home in her retirement residence.  She had lived a full life, and after a pleasant evening with Judith watching Nadal play tennis (her favourite next to Federer), she slipped away in the wee hours of Saturday morning.  She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, John Mills; her brother Abbott Conway; sister Helen O’Connor; parents Jennie and Worrell Conway; and her good friend Bill Macdonald.  Barbara leaves her children: Jennifer, Judith, Terry and Megan; grandchildren: Alex Sayers, Michael Campbell, Mary Claire Mills and John Mills; and great-grandchildren: Elsie, Arlo, Lola, Judith and Lane.

Mom was born and grew up in Huntsville with a vivid appreciation of the woods and lakes, and could identify the calls of all the birds.  She would often talk about her favourite activities, tennis, skiing, and the summers at Norway Point, Lake of Bays in the days of steamships and the portage railway.  Those now distant times wove through the depression and into the war, and after studying Fine Arts at Trinity College, U of T she joined the WRCNS and was stationed in Halifax.  She had many stories from her time in the navy as a signaller sending messages to ships in the harbour.  She had the advantage that old friends arriving in port could contact her directly from their ships to make plans for a party that evening.  The Halifax riot at the end of the war was a most memorable experience.  After the war, she married our father, John, had children and we eventually returned to live in Huntsville for some years.  She was a wonderful and energetic mother who loved children, along with writing, painting, silversmithing, reading and horses which she effortlessly did all at once.  In her eighties she wrote and illustrated two books based on her memories of her early life in Muskoka.

So here’s to a life well lived.  She was a true-heart and someone who loved a project.  A special thank you to the staff at Balmoral Club who patiently provided care and support as her mobility became difficult.

A celebration of her life will take place at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) on Wednesday, September 26^th at 1:00 p.m. followed by a reception.

If desired, donations to the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation (P.O. Box 81, Baysville, ON, P0B 1A0) or charity of choice would be appreciated.    Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.