Obituary for Mrs. Barbara Jean Tresidder (Taylor)
It is with profound sorrow that we announce Barb passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospice, Thunder Bay, Ontario on January 8, 2020, at the age of 83. She is survived by her children George, Michael and Cathy, their spouses Melanie, Maria and Shawn Donohue, three grandchildren Lucia, Matthew and Benjamin Tresidder, her brother Philip Taylor and nephew Ron and nieces Wendy and Sandy. She is predeceased by her parents Newton and Dorothy Taylor, her husband Ron and her sister Judy.
Barb was born in Toronto in 1936 and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She completed high school at The Study (Quebec) and then attended Notre Dame Secretarial School. She met Ron Tresidder in 1958 and they married in Montreal West in 1959. (To this day many of Mom’s passwords remain Ron’s initials combined with the digits of 1959.) For two years they moved to Jamaica for Ron’s work, returning to Montreal to begin their family. George, Mike and finally Cathy were raised briefly in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec and then Dundas, Ontario. With Ron being a British citizen, he and Barb packed up the family and moved to Kent, England, planning to spend a lifetime together there. Just eighteen months later in 1972, Barb found herself a widow with three young children. She returned to Canada and focused on raising her children first in Thornhill and then Markham, Ontario. Eventually Barb returned to the work force, becoming the Office Coordinator for the Markham Family Life Centre, a job to which she brought her renowned efficiency and organizational skills.
In retirement Barb resided at Twenty Place in Mount Hope where she served several roles, including working on her Phase Executive Committee and as an aquabics instructor. Barb travelled extensively in later life, relishing learning about culture, landscape and wildlife across the world in 63 different countries. Trips also included regular visits to Thunder Bay to spend time with Cathy, Shawn and their Newfies at the cottage that she helped build on Stewart Lake. Annual trips were also made to Somerset and Cumbria, England, to visit with George and his family including her much loved grandchildren and, more recently, rescued grand-dogs. She moved to Thunder Bay in 2018 to reside near Cathy and Shawn, living at Isabella Retirement Residence where she immediately began serving the community by becoming President of the Residents’ Council, overhauled and organized all book donations into a working library (which will be dedicated to her) and helping organize weekly film nights.
Throughout her life Barb was admired by all for her warmth, her sage counsel, organisational flair and steadfast devotion to family and friends .This message is being sent around the globe, to friends and family from The Study School, England, Thornhill, Markham, Mount Hope, Thunder Bay and to countless travel companions. She valued so many people from different walks of life and worked tirelessly to stay in touch with you all.
Cremation has taken place. If desired, donations to Hospice Services Northwest (https://www.hospicenorthwest.ca/how-you-can-help/memorial-donations/) or your local Hospice Unit would be very much appreciated.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpler Times Cremation Centre, 332 North May Street, Thunder Bay.
Barb was born in Toronto in 1936 and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She completed high school at The Study (Quebec) and then attended Notre Dame Secretarial School. She met Ron Tresidder in 1958 and they married in Montreal West in 1959. (To this day many of Mom’s passwords remain Ron’s initials combined with the digits of 1959.) For two years they moved to Jamaica for Ron’s work, returning to Montreal to begin their family. George, Mike and finally Cathy were raised briefly in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec and then Dundas, Ontario. With Ron being a British citizen, he and Barb packed up the family and moved to Kent, England, planning to spend a lifetime together there. Just eighteen months later in 1972, Barb found herself a widow with three young children. She returned to Canada and focused on raising her children first in Thornhill and then Markham, Ontario. Eventually Barb returned to the work force, becoming the Office Coordinator for the Markham Family Life Centre, a job to which she brought her renowned efficiency and organizational skills.
In retirement Barb resided at Twenty Place in Mount Hope where she served several roles, including working on her Phase Executive Committee and as an aquabics instructor. Barb travelled extensively in later life, relishing learning about culture, landscape and wildlife across the world in 63 different countries. Trips also included regular visits to Thunder Bay to spend time with Cathy, Shawn and their Newfies at the cottage that she helped build on Stewart Lake. Annual trips were also made to Somerset and Cumbria, England, to visit with George and his family including her much loved grandchildren and, more recently, rescued grand-dogs. She moved to Thunder Bay in 2018 to reside near Cathy and Shawn, living at Isabella Retirement Residence where she immediately began serving the community by becoming President of the Residents’ Council, overhauled and organized all book donations into a working library (which will be dedicated to her) and helping organize weekly film nights.
Throughout her life Barb was admired by all for her warmth, her sage counsel, organisational flair and steadfast devotion to family and friends .This message is being sent around the globe, to friends and family from The Study School, England, Thornhill, Markham, Mount Hope, Thunder Bay and to countless travel companions. She valued so many people from different walks of life and worked tirelessly to stay in touch with you all.
Cremation has taken place. If desired, donations to Hospice Services Northwest (https://www.hospicenorthwest.ca/how-you-can-help/memorial-donations/) or your local Hospice Unit would be very much appreciated.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpler Times Cremation Centre, 332 North May Street, Thunder Bay.