Obituary
With profound sorrow we announce the sudden passing of Annette Barrett on August 31, 2020 at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre with her beloved husband holding her hand.
Ann was born in Northern England, in the Yorkshire Dales on the 23rd of January 1937. She was raised in Thornton le Moor where she met her lifelong sister friends Trish and Val. She was educated at Northallerton Grammar School and earned her teaching certificate from Eltham College in London. Ann taught briefly at Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast before meeting and marrying the love of her life Roy in 1960. Ann set about becoming the best farm wife possible following the sage advice of her mother in law to “never learn to milk a cow or pluck a chicken else you’ll be doing it for the rest of your life.” The couple had three children, Julia, Adrian and Richard before deciding to bravely emigrate to Canada in 1967. They journeyed across the country before settling down to raise hogs in Ponoka AB in 1968 and having another child Valerie in 1969. Ann was instrumental in the success of the farm, a true partner in the enterprise, moving livestock, cleaning pig pens, birthing piglets all the while keeping an immaculate home, providing delicious meals and motherly support for her family. People in town seeing her graceful beauty and elegant style of dress could never have guessed how very hard she worked. She could quick change from a shower cap, coveralls and boots in the barn to hair up, evening gown and jewels for a night at the opera. She worked briefly at the Classic where her fashion sense and keen eye for style helped many Ponoka ladies look their very best.
Ann and Roy “retired” to the Chain lakes area in 1995 and Ann enjoyed 25 blissful years tending her flowers, feeding the birds and stray cats and entertaining friends and family on the deck in what she called her “lovely spot.” During this time, she also welcomed 3 beautiful granddaughters into her life. It gave her such joy to proudly watch them grow into the lovely confident young women they are today.
Ann was always creative, sewing, knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch, furniture refinishing and anything else she put her hand to. She loved clothes, shoes and jewelry and frequently modelled for local stores. She was an avid reader who enjoyed poetry, theatre and music from classical to ABBA. She took great pleasure in designing and decorating the houses in which she lived filling them with treasures antiques purchased at various auctions over the years.
She had a tremendous sense of humour and loved a good laugh even if it was at her own expense. Her family took great pleasure in teasing her and she would always say “when I’m right no one remembers and when I’m wrong no one forgets.”
She was passionate about nature and revelled in its beauty from flowers and trees to bees and butterflies. She loved all animals and rescued many cats and dogs over the years, she liked to say life is but a series of good dogs.
Her smile and charm drew people to her and her warm heart and generous spirit made her a wonderful friend to anyone who knew her. She had friends of all ages and walks of life and celebrated their differences. She was always ready with a sympathetic ear or a helping hand and managed to make everyone in her life feel special. She loved to throw fabulous parties, have long lunches with “the girls” and adored making lasting memories with all her friends over the years.
Above all Ann loved her family. Her marriage of almost 60 years to Roy was a testament to her love and devotion to him and an inspiration of what love should be to all who knew them. Her nurturing of her children made them strong and independent but never wanting to stray too far from her. The grand children who knew her as a “cool” Granny because she never really looked or acted her age. The sweet new addition of a great-grandson who will know her through pictures and stories. She always said how lucky she was to have her family, never realizing that the traits she loved most about them were learned from her. She touched many lives in her lifetime and truly left the world much better than she found it.
Ann leaves to mourn her husband Roy; children Julia, Adrian (Lisa), Richard, and Valerie; granddaughters Hannah (Lance), Sarah, and Rachel; great -grandson Locke; and her cats Jasper and Iago.
Donations may be made in her memory to Old MacDonald’s Kennels.
At Ann’s request there will be no service but there will be a party in her honour at a later date.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Annette Barrett, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Annette Barrett January 23 1937 August 31 2020 (age 83)..
Death notice for the town of: Wetaskiwin, Province: Alberta