Barbara Joan Haig

HAIG, Barbara Joan – Died suddenly but peacefully in Sault Ste. Marie, ON early in the morning on Thursday, August 11, 2016. She is survived by her father, Robert Haig; her sister Margaret (Yves Paradis), Pamela (William Bartley) and Judith (Carmine Tullio), also her nieces and nephews Daniel Paradis, Katherine Paradis, Alexander Bartley, Paige Tullio and Christine Tullio. She was predeceased by her mother Mary and her niece Nicola Tullio. Barbara was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 16, 1953. She suffered from a rare genetic condition that severely affected her ability to function physically and yet she devoted herself, fiercely and courageously, from her earliest years, to rejecting this as her destiny. Her family has warm memories of her taking on the challenges of a wide array of activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, tobogganing, para-sailing and sailing. She had a dare devil’s love of speed, and a card-sharp’s facility with cards; she was an avid bridge player, a barracuda at euchre, and no less a barracuda at her first love, word games, notably Jotto and Scrabble. She was an equally avid reader, and her love of books was matched by her love of the social occasion of talking about them in her book club. She was, like her mother and grandmother before her, a “church lady” in the best tradition of the United Church. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Glendon College, York University and later took a secretarial course at Sault College. She worked for many years as a secretary for the Ministry of Labour. As we mourn her loss, we remember that “Time heals not. It extends a sorrow’s scope/As goldsmith’s gold, which we may wear like hope”. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Monday, August 15, 2016 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm. Memorial service in the chapel at 1 pm. Rev. Laurie Milito officiating. Memorial contributions to Yellow Balloon Projects at the Hospital for Sick Kids (www.yellowballoon.org) would be appreciated.