Barbara Lois Volk

Barbara Volk (October 10, 1932 – January 14, 2025) died peacefully at home surrounded by her family. Loving wife of Nicholas (deceased) and mother to Rebecca (Martin), Nicholas (Kimberley), Gregory (Donna), Timothy (Nancy), Cecelia (Sean), Jennifer (Chris), nine wonderful grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Barbara was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a degree in chemistry and was employed by Hoffmann-La Roche and the Harvard Medical School. Barbara stayed connected with family and friends who lunched at the Puritan and enjoyed sundaes at Blake’s in Manchester.

Barbara and her husband Nicholas spent several years working with the U.S. foreign service in southeast Asia. Her children were born in Cambodia, Thailand and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), the United States and Canada. Barbara and the family settled in Toronto in 1964, and Canada became their home.

She was dedicated to giving a voice to those whose voices were not heard. She became an active member in various community organizations in Toronto for decades while raising a family of six children. She served as a longtime volunteer, Executive Director, and Board Member at Dixon Hall and gave committed leadership to Dixon Neighbourhood Homes. Barbara was awarded the Order of Dixon in 2010 for her outstanding voluntary contributions to the Dixon Hall community. In addition, she was passionate about the Summerhill neighbourhood she lived in, co-founding and serving on the Summerhill Ratepayers (Residence) Association. For decades she worked tirelessly to challenge developers who attempted to destroy the neighbourhood’s character. Barbara inspired and encouraged others to look beyond themselves and to serve others, including her husband Nick, whom she motivated and supported in his advocacy work for affordable housing.

Barbara enjoyed travel and adventures, including a five-week European family journey in a Volkswagen van that provided a lifetime of memories and laughter. A transplant to Canada, she became a hockey fan after the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and Russia. Her artistic flair was displayed in the clothes she made and the art she created, including stained glass and rug hooking.

Barbara’s life included many pleasures that brought her family much joy: fearless leader of the outlaws for decades, friend to Vern and others with whom she shared cheese sandwiches, adopter of stray dogs Frodo and Cú Chulainn, avid reader (Patrick White was a favourite), lover of opera (Jussi Björling especially), art (Vincent van Gogh), classic movies with Elwy Yost and championing the annual Summerhill Fair. She enjoyed Sunday afternoons with Gilmour’s Albums, Around the World Cookbook, wearing her silver bangles from Southeast Asia, the Boston Red Sox, Börje Salming, coffee gelato, and beautiful Italian shoes.

“Mups” will be remembered by her family for her strong will, her intelligence, her selflessness, her inclusivity, her curiosity, her tenacity, her sense of order, and for keeping everyone’s ego in check. She will be missed.

Come share your stories and memories at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home, 467 Sherbourne Street, (Wednesday February 5, 2025, 3:00 - 6:00 pm. We will gather to share fond memories from 6:00 - 6:30pm). If you wish, donations only to Dixon Hall in memory of Barbara Volk would be welcome at https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/DonationPage.aspx?eventid=390901&langpref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone

Please visit www.rosar-morrison.com