Barbara White
2022 – 2022
Barbara Alexandra White
1946-2022
Barby died peacefully at the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital in Cowansville, Quebec, late on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022, following a stroke. This was the same hospital where she was born on May 13, 1946.
Barby was the youngest child of Gerald Leland Wilmington White and Aileen Ethel Stairs White of Montreal and Knowlton, both of whom predeceased her.
Barby attended several schools and universities: St. George’s School of Montreal, across Ramezay Road from her parents’ house; El Convento del Sagrado Corazon, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where she learned fluent Spanish along with her older sister Caroline, and danced bailes mallorquines in costume; Le Châtelard international boarding school, Les Avants, Vaud, Switzerland, also with Caroline; The Study school for girls in Montreal, also attended by Caroline and their cousins Sonia Stairs and Judy Rotherham, in the footsteps of many Stairs mothers and aunts; McGill University; Oxford University, where she studied psychology; and York University, where she eventually obtained a Master’s degree in clinical psychology. It was while she was at Oxford that she first experienced psychotic episodes, caused by schizophrenia, which she bore bravely all her life.
In the late summer of 1951, Barby, age 5, crossed the Atlantic on the Cunarder SS Samaria with her siblings and her Aunt Eula White. Her dining steward Joseph sang “Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes”, the latest hit by The Brothers Four, to her at every meal. (Her eyes were actually blue.) Barby then stayed with her family in Ciboure, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France for three months before they moved to Mallorca for several years.
Before her illness Barby enjoyed many sports. She rode horses at the Knowlton Pony Club, swam, sailed and canoed at the Brome Lake Boat Club, and skied in Canada and Europe, particularly in Seefeld, Austria, where she spent a winter with her parents and sister Caroline. She loved taking her dog for walks on Mount Royal, playing her guitar and listening to classical music. Barby made her début at the St. Andrew’s Ball in Montreal.
Barby was an avid painter, particularly of horses. After her mother’s death in 1988 Barby lived successfully on her own in Montreal for many years, always keeping an eagle eye on her finances. Three years ago she moved to Excelsoins in Knowlton, Quebec, where she was well cared for by the very kind nursing staff.
Barby was stunningly beautiful as a young woman, with smooth dark hair and lovely eyes. Despite her struggles with schizophrenia, she lived her life deeply appreciative of Art, and took comfort in her relationship with God. She was an avid reader of the Montreal Gazette, and was frequently distressed at the plight of the poor.
Barby is survived by her brother Peter Gerald White and his wife Mary of Knowlton, as well as their three sons Jonathan, Adam and Sandy White. Also surviving her is her sister Caroline Elizabeth Lentz of Woodbridge, Ontario, and Caroline’s children Tanya Nixon, Lisa Maldonado, Nicholas Lentz, Tim Lentz, and Gretchen Austin, as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews. Barb is also survived by her uncle Prof. Robert Stairs of Peterborough, Ontario, and by many cousins. Her first cousin Tony Rotherham and his wife Audrey of Knowlton were always particularly kind and solicitous.
The family is very grateful to those who provided medical care to Barby over many years, particularly the late Dr. Alan Mann, and Dr. Thomas Milroy, both of the Montreal General Hospital. More recently, they would like to thank Dr. Vincent Lamoureux of Knowlton, and Dr. Julie Gill of Cowansville who cared for Barby following her recent stroke, along with the excellent nursing staff of the BMP hospital.
Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the BMP Foundation, 950 rue Principale, Local B-1500, Cowansville, QC J2K 1K3.
A Service of Committal will be held at the Knowlton Cemetery in the spring or summer of 2023. Arrangements entrusted to the
Désourdy Funeral Home
318 Knowlton Rd
Knowlton, QC J0E 1V0
T: 450-243-5568, www.desourdy.ca
2022 2022
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Barbara White 2022 2022 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.
Décès pour la Ville: Knowlton, Province: Quebec