Barbara Monahan Stockfish

Barbara was born in St George, New Brunswick on May 29, 1929. She died at age 94 after a brief illness at Thorncliffe Place Seniors Residence in Ottawa on April 20, 2024. She was predeceased by her parents Harry and Lorene, her sister Jessie, her husband Stewart (she was his “Barbie doll”!), her daughter Wendy and her son Garry. She is survived by her son Bruce (Shana) who lives in Ottawa, her daughter Carol in Victoria, BC and her son Glenn (Pauline) in Iroquois, ON. She will also be missed by her grandchildren Alana, David, Casey, Ashley and Braedyn, and her great grandchildren Henry and Thomas.

Barbara’s life came full circle. She was a Maritimer, having left small-town St George in 1948 to pursue studies in Montreal. She then went to Ottawa to be with her sister and that is where she met Stew. She returned to Ottawa for the final chapter of her life after having spent the intervening years, successively, in Toronto, Georgetown, ON, Dorval, QC, Sault Ste Marie, ON and Orangeville, ON. She and Stew married in Toronto in 1951 and went on to have five children - their contribution to the baby boom! She was a bit of an introvert and somewhat serious-minded, which wonderfully complemented Stew’s jovial charm and outgoingness. And what a brilliant mind she had! An avid reader, she pursued continuing education in different fields over her entire life. She was already a dedicated wife and mother - who knows what she might have accomplished professionally in another era.

Barb was a sweet, loving, generous woman who charmed everyone who met her. Even in her final years she would always want to take her kids out, pick up the bill for the meal, do whatever she could. It’s always difficult to measure the impact one’s life has on others, but in a thousand little ways Barbara enriched the lives of very many people. No one had anything negative to say about her. She was a wonderful conversationalist. She had a cheery word for everyone she saw. Her generosity was with her until the end.  She will continue to be loved. She is already missed.

Special thanks to the staff of Thorncliffe Place Seniors Residence for their support and care, especially during the difficult final days. And to Villagia in the Glebe where she spent three happy (albeit Covid-challenging) years prior to that.

A short Christian service and celebration of Barbara's life will be held on Sunday April 28 2024 at 2 o'clock at Thorncliffe Place Retirement Residence, 1 Thorncliffe Place, Ottawa (Bell's Corners). Memories and condolences may be shared at https://obituaries.basicfunerals.ca. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local food bank in Barbara's memory.