Nancy Louise Barker

Born during a howling snowstorm on the night of Friday the 13th, Louise was exceptional her whole too-short life.

Louise graduated from Lewis S. Beattie Secondary School and worked at Ontario Hydro and IBM, but she retained child-like wonderment until the end. Her enthusiasm for and joy from everyday pleasures – rainbow colours, jigsaw puzzles, puppies, old rock n roll, stringing beads – were infectious.

Louise’s senses of hearing, smell and eyesight were extraordinary. She would detect distant helicopters and emergency sirens, and identify fire engines from ambulances from police cars before we heard anything. Walking together down the street she could tell us who was cooking what for dinner from the mixed aromas. And no-one found more money on the sidewalk than Louise, including 50-dollar bills on three occasions. We said she had eyes like magnets.

She loved coloured lights, especially moving and flashing colours, and was excited to share her sightings with us. As a young woman she took herself to Las Vegas twice, not to play games or drink or see the stage shows, but to experience the larger-than-life lights. Every year Louise looked forward more than any of us to Halloween decorations and Christmas lights. Colourful clothing, light-up for holidays, was her favourite.

Last week Louise’s sensitivity turned on her. After heart surgery she was the one in 10,000 who couldn’t tolerate the blood thinners she needed. Louise almost survived a second procedure which would have eliminated her heart’s need for thinner blood.

Louise is predeceased by father Jack and mother Nancy, survived by brothers Nicholas and Timothy, sister-in-law Catherine McNeill, nephews Oliver and Eliot, niece Gemma and grandnephew Aldo.

Louise is fondly remembered by caring supporters at Christian Horizons and at Rockcliffe Care Community.

Louise’s family thanks dedicated medical staff at Sunnybrook, Scarborough General and Toronto General Hospitals.