Obituary for Barbara Ann Fraser
Barbara Ann Fraser
It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and devoted friend to many, Barbara Ann Fraser, passed away peacefully on Sunday February 7, at the age of 81 at the Cornwall Community Hospital, with her son and daughter in law by her side. While we mourn her loss, we are inspired by her courage, resilience, and sense of humour, never lost, even while battling through chronic pain in her later years. Born on September 22, 1939 she was the daughter of Leo and Kathleen Fraser of Cornwall, Ontario.
Barbara’s compassion served her well in her chosen profession of nursing. She graduated from the Cornwall General Hospital School of Nursing in 1960 and began her impressive career working for renowned pediatrician, Dr. Ian Gourley. She was always smiling, laughing and had a very gentle way with children. She was perhaps most widely known for administering allergy shots to a good percentage of them in the Cornwall area until Dr. Gourley’s retirement in 1980. She then moved on to become Nursing Supervisor at the Cornwall Community hospital (former Hotel Dieu) and as a poetic bookend, ended her career caring for seniors as the Administrator of Bestview (later Versa Care and now Heartwood) in 1999. She was a mentor to her peers and received national company-wide Awards of Excellence. She was most proud of the palliative care suites, gardens and the renovation to the building all constructed under her term and that still remain for the resident’s comfort and enjoyment. In later years, she took great pleasure in volunteering at Cornwall Hospice.
Barbara was exceptional at creating and cultivating true friendships and taking strength from close circles of friends from high school, nursing school, her career, and, through her many interests and hobbies. Her irreverent ‘Fraser humour’, always caught life’s ironies but not at the personal expense of anyone, and she had a penchant for telling stories. She was very close to her surviving brothers and sisters, was proud of the many accomplishments of her nieces and nephews and their children and looked forward to any opportunity to spend with them.
If you asked Barbara to describe herself her reply would be grandmother. She doted on her two granddaughters, they formed an inseparable bond and became the lights of her life. She cherished her time with them, especially each summer when they stayed with her to attend camps, and taught them how to bake her favourite recipes, including her infamous raspberry cream pie. In retirement, she travelled to visit them as often as possible, sharing in many celebrations with her daughter in law’s family for 22 years. She developed a close bond with Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Patricia Sanborn of Cornwall and their children. She will be deeply missed by the Sanborn family. Barbara’s example as a single mother with so many accomplishments in life achieved through hard work, courage and determination is her legacy for her granddaughters to be inspired by and proud of. She had an undying, unconditional love for her son, and it will forever be the foundation of who he has become as a father.
A life- long skier and tennis player she shared and passed those interests down to her son and grand- daughters and enjoyed many beautiful days on the slopes and courts with family and friends. She also enjoyed travelling, fashion, golf, dancing, reading and music, especially pipe bands at her beloved Highland Games.
Barbara relied upon her Christian faith in times of need and she was a devout Presbyterian. She gave back to the church serving in various administrative roles, and was particularly appreciative of the kindness of her fellow worshipers who offered her rides every Sunday to services in her later years.
The family wishes to thank the nurses, respiratory therapists, and team on the ICU unit at the Cornwall Community Hospital for their gentle care and compassion. While there, Barbara expressed that she hoped “I left the world a little better”. Hers was certainly a life well lived.
Barbara is beloved mother of Darren Lalonde and his wife Stephanie Sanborn of Stormont. Cherised grandmother of Elizabeth Kathleen and Ruby Ann Lalonde. Survived and deeply missed by brother Steven (Marilyn) of Guelph, sisters Hazel Fraser of Ottawa, Linda Fraser, and Nancy (Gary) Robinson of Westport, and nieces and nephews Holly, Andrew, Josh, Cameron, Heather, Kim, and Jenny. Predeceased by brothers Wesley and John (Sheila) Fraser. In keeping with Barbara’s wishes cremation has taken place. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. It was Barbara’s wish that if so desired, memorial donations could be made to the Cornwall Hospice.
It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and devoted friend to many, Barbara Ann Fraser, passed away peacefully on Sunday February 7, at the age of 81 at the Cornwall Community Hospital, with her son and daughter in law by her side. While we mourn her loss, we are inspired by her courage, resilience, and sense of humour, never lost, even while battling through chronic pain in her later years. Born on September 22, 1939 she was the daughter of Leo and Kathleen Fraser of Cornwall, Ontario.
Barbara’s compassion served her well in her chosen profession of nursing. She graduated from the Cornwall General Hospital School of Nursing in 1960 and began her impressive career working for renowned pediatrician, Dr. Ian Gourley. She was always smiling, laughing and had a very gentle way with children. She was perhaps most widely known for administering allergy shots to a good percentage of them in the Cornwall area until Dr. Gourley’s retirement in 1980. She then moved on to become Nursing Supervisor at the Cornwall Community hospital (former Hotel Dieu) and as a poetic bookend, ended her career caring for seniors as the Administrator of Bestview (later Versa Care and now Heartwood) in 1999. She was a mentor to her peers and received national company-wide Awards of Excellence. She was most proud of the palliative care suites, gardens and the renovation to the building all constructed under her term and that still remain for the resident’s comfort and enjoyment. In later years, she took great pleasure in volunteering at Cornwall Hospice.
Barbara was exceptional at creating and cultivating true friendships and taking strength from close circles of friends from high school, nursing school, her career, and, through her many interests and hobbies. Her irreverent ‘Fraser humour’, always caught life’s ironies but not at the personal expense of anyone, and she had a penchant for telling stories. She was very close to her surviving brothers and sisters, was proud of the many accomplishments of her nieces and nephews and their children and looked forward to any opportunity to spend with them.
If you asked Barbara to describe herself her reply would be grandmother. She doted on her two granddaughters, they formed an inseparable bond and became the lights of her life. She cherished her time with them, especially each summer when they stayed with her to attend camps, and taught them how to bake her favourite recipes, including her infamous raspberry cream pie. In retirement, she travelled to visit them as often as possible, sharing in many celebrations with her daughter in law’s family for 22 years. She developed a close bond with Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Patricia Sanborn of Cornwall and their children. She will be deeply missed by the Sanborn family. Barbara’s example as a single mother with so many accomplishments in life achieved through hard work, courage and determination is her legacy for her granddaughters to be inspired by and proud of. She had an undying, unconditional love for her son, and it will forever be the foundation of who he has become as a father.
A life- long skier and tennis player she shared and passed those interests down to her son and grand- daughters and enjoyed many beautiful days on the slopes and courts with family and friends. She also enjoyed travelling, fashion, golf, dancing, reading and music, especially pipe bands at her beloved Highland Games.
Barbara relied upon her Christian faith in times of need and she was a devout Presbyterian. She gave back to the church serving in various administrative roles, and was particularly appreciative of the kindness of her fellow worshipers who offered her rides every Sunday to services in her later years.
The family wishes to thank the nurses, respiratory therapists, and team on the ICU unit at the Cornwall Community Hospital for their gentle care and compassion. While there, Barbara expressed that she hoped “I left the world a little better”. Hers was certainly a life well lived.
Barbara is beloved mother of Darren Lalonde and his wife Stephanie Sanborn of Stormont. Cherised grandmother of Elizabeth Kathleen and Ruby Ann Lalonde. Survived and deeply missed by brother Steven (Marilyn) of Guelph, sisters Hazel Fraser of Ottawa, Linda Fraser, and Nancy (Gary) Robinson of Westport, and nieces and nephews Holly, Andrew, Josh, Cameron, Heather, Kim, and Jenny. Predeceased by brothers Wesley and John (Sheila) Fraser. In keeping with Barbara’s wishes cremation has taken place. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. It was Barbara’s wish that if so desired, memorial donations could be made to the Cornwall Hospice.