Barbara Allison Parke (nee Graham)
1924-2021
PARKE, BARBARA ALLISON, nee GRAHAM, Stratford, PEI.
Peacefully on October 21st with her family by her side we
announce the passing of our wonderful mother at the age of 97. She is
survived by her four children Robert Charles (Debbie), Janet Barbara
(Philip, deceased), Richard Graham (Cindy) and Stephen Hughes
(Kathleen). Barbara will be greatly missed by her four grandchildren
Andy (Janelle), Kelly (Brian), Philip (Andrea) and Graham (Laura) and
her four great-grandchildren Jenna & Josh O’Neill and Zachary
& Allison Robichaud who all cherish her dearly.
Barb is survived by her sister Jean Jarvie and her
children Jimmy, Peter and Keith (Kathy) and their families. Mum and
Aunt Jean have been great friends since childhood and remained close
as they visited each other and shared many adventures and memories.
She is also survived by her brother Tom Graham (Rosalyn) and their
children Andrew & Lesley. She was predeceased by her husband
Robert Parke and her very special friend Garth Herring.
Nena was an artist at heart and filled her days with
everything creative. She had many talents and interests including
gardening, Scottish-country dancing and square-dancing and loved to
knit, crochet and sew, most of which she donated. In her younger days,
she made most of her own clothes including formal evening wear. She
loved spending time in nature and often had companion animals. Barb
was a voracious reader and kept the St. John House library fully
stocked for others to enjoy.
When we kids were
younger, mum filled the house with love through home-cooked meals and
freshly baked cookies, cakes and puddings. Lemon pie and chocolate
upside-down pudding were our all-time favorites. She enjoyed her
backyard flowers which we tried to organize for her but she was
adamant that she preferred an old English country style garden.
Earlier on, she also had an impressive vegetable garden. One day as
she was planting, low and behold her German Shepherd Prince was
digging everything up. She just laughed and started over in her own
gentle way.
Right up until her passing, Nena
lived independently and enjoyed shopping and supporting local
artisans, always adding to her pottery, jewellery, shoe and purse
collections. Nena followed current events and was always open-minded
and considered new and unfamiliar perspectives.
A private celebration of life will be held with family. Barbara
will be laid to rest at Floral Hills cemetery, next to her kindred
spirit Garth Herring.
To carry forward her true spirit, listen with an open mind,
love unconditionally and try new things. This may have been her secret
to living a loving, long and full life.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Barbara Allison Parke nee Graham 19242021..
Death notice for the town of: Charlottetown, Province: I-P-E