Passed away after a long life well lived, at Eagle Park Health Care Facility in Qualicum Beach. Born in lovely Cambridge, England, Barbara (née Kenward) lived mainly in Essex in her early years. She earned degrees in microbiology at Reading University, embarking on higher education at a time when only a tiny percentage of university students were women, especially in the sciences. She graduated with distinction, pursuing graduate studies with equal success.
At university she met Alan Hughes who would become her husband and they began a 65 year long waltz together. In the early 1960s they started a new life in Malaysia after answering a job advertisement at Barbara’s urging. They lived in Kuala Lumpur for several years, later moving to Bangkok where they taught in the sciences at Mahidol University. After immigrating to Canada, they settled in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Over the years, following the path of Alan’s career, they made their home in the U.K., Thailand, Malaysia, the United States and Canada.
Barbara loved elegant clothes and had a timeless style and grace. She took great pleasure in poetry and literature, teaching her children the verses of Tennyson, Shakespeare, Eliot, Keats and Wordsworth during a period of home schooling in Bangkok. After moving to Canada, she was especially charmed by the striking natural beauty and by cottage life, planning family summer vacations at Amethyst Harbour on the northwestern shores of Lake Superior. Barbara and Alan retired happily to French Creek on Vancouver Island 24 years ago, a home they cherished, enjoying the temperate weather and the gentle beauty of the island.
Barbara suffered from serious health ailments across the years and withstood these challenges with grace and stoicism. Alan looked after her with steadfast loyalty for all of their lives together. Pre-deceased just a month earlier by Alan, she is survived by son John (Julia), daughter Elizabeth, grandchildren Patrick, Alison, and Carys, and beloved family in England.
Sincere and heartfelt thanks to all the staff, nurses, doctors and volunteers at Eagle Park Health Care Facility for caring for Barbara faithfully with kindness, dedication and good humour. We will always remember and be grateful for your significant contribution to her care and well-being.
A private family ceremony will take place later, at Barbara’s request.
Bye bye, Mum. Go gentle now into that good night, safe always in Alan’s warm circle of care. May this ever-favourite Byron verse help light your way:
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.