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Rev. Canon Rodney Hugh Barlow Obituary
It is with great sadness that the family announces his peaceful passing on May 23rd, 2024 at Shalom Village in Hamilton at the age of 80. Leaving his wife Marnie, son Richard, daughter Colleen her husband Bruce and Tyson his grandson to mourn.
Rod was born in Calgary June 23, 1943 to Elsie (nee Robertson) and Robert Barlow, he had two brothers of which he was the middle child. His younger brother Dave died in 1997 sadly to Cancer and his elder brother Bob is still living in BC. Rod has three nieces and one nephew, Michele living in Hong Kong, Alison, Nathalie and Scott living in BC and there are great nieces and nephews. As a teenager he would go to the family farm in Elkhorn, Manitoba. Where he would work with his uncles on the farms throwing bails of hay.
He was a graduate of Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto in 1968. Later that year he and Marnie were married in Calgary by the Right Rev Bishop Douglas Blackwell (deceased) who he and his wife Sandra became life long friends. Then returning to Toronto and he was ordained in November 1968 and began his first appointment at St Anne’s Toronto and a second appointment at St Paul’s Bloor St. Where Rod and Marnie met the Armstrong family who are here today as some of the pall bearers also life long friends that Rod officiated marriages, baptisms, funerals and is Chris’ god father.
Rod became known for improving and building up churches. In 1972, Richard was born and we moved to Midland and Rod was the incumbent at St Mark’s for 12 years with many accomplishments often focusing on building improvements at the various properties. In Midland, there was an excavation underneath the church to build a new hall, kitchen and office spaces. Colleen was then born in 1974. In 1984, we moved to Whitby and he was the incumbent at All Saints Whitby until 1992. Again the building projects started in Whitby with “expansion 88” some of you here today Rod hit up for donations and support of the project, tapping many on the shoulder to help. Fundraising and supporting the building of a new office space and Sunday school area as well as repairs and improvements to the spire to return it to its 1870 pattern and colour. He was also very involved in opening many homes in the Durham region for those with mental health issues, supporting folks returning to the community. In 1995, St Paul’s in Lindsay was looking for a leader with vision, compassion and decision making skills and they found Rod. So, Rod and Marnie moved to Lindsay and he was the incumbent there until his retirement in July 2007 after 39 years of service to the Anglican church. In Lindsay he became a land lord through the Church. Realizing the need for more parking on Sundays and the Canada post office next door up for sale. It was purchased for parking on Sundays and during the week it was rented back out to Canada post. Rod stabilized the capital plans in Lindsay and repaired and renovated the kitchen generating not only income but parking. In Lindsay the rectory was also converted to a home for pregnant teenagers and mothers needing prenatal support or a safe place to live. Christmas dinners also became famous while in Lindsay. He would arrange for Christmas dinner to be cooked for anyone that had nowhere to go or was needing a hot meal. All the food was donated, cooked and served by volunteers. 50lb turkeys take a long time to cook!!!!, but Rod would be down at the church over and over throughout the day and night making sure that they got into the oven in time and many people came out of need, others for the social interaction on Christmas day and others because they supported the initiative. The Lindsay area also benefited from Rod’s leadership with the Bell Ringers, Mystery Dinner Theatre, modern outreach programs, wheelchair services and special support for the King Albert School. Rod’s mission was to always be there for people and to help how he could. “He would applaud achievements and nudge us to always strive to be better in our lives to others.”
Rod’s approach resulted in many curates and students being assigned to him for learning, skill building and general approach to administratively running a church and ministrying, pastoral care. Dad’s ability to take scripture and turn it into modern, resonating sermons/services (that better not be longer than one hour!!! ) would resonate and relate to many. Colleen and Richard were often red faced and embarrassed at Sunday services as dad would talk about the fight about emptying/loading the dishwasher or other household task that would somehow unknowingly make it into a sermon, making scripture real and relatable for parishoners. His parting words to St Paul’s upon his retirement:
“Some people have thanked me for my ministry. The fact is that I and my family have received much ministry in return. The church has lifted us up and supported us, without which our work would not have been possible. So I thank you for giving me the opportunity to offer my ministry, knowing that it could not have happened without your own ministry to me and my family”.
Early on money was sparse, but Rod and Marnie were able to purchase a cottage in Kawartha Lakes, after hours (years really) of renovating the cottage and building a sauna and bunk room it became the summer place to be. Colleen was about 5-6 years old and spent one summer carrying bricks for Rod to build the sauna fire place. She began the summer carrying one brick at time in her bucket by the end of the summer she was able to carry four at a time! Many winters were spent skiing in over the lake, chopping holes in the ice for water and having a hot sauna and jumping in the snow. One winter Rod made a toboggan slide in the driveway that when hot enough you could run up and come down on the slide then run back into the Sauna to get warm again.
Rod and Marnie travelled throughout many parts of Europe, the Caribbean and ultimately an epic trip for Rod, Marnie, Colleen and Bruce in 2018 when we went to Africa. Was Dad’s 75th, mom’s 70th and Bruce’s 50th birthdays so a good excuse for a great adventure. Dad really enjoyed the nature and watching the animals throughout the various parks. He even walked with lion cubs and was able to pat and feed a wild elephant. A sunrise balloon ride over the savana and spotting animals in their natural environment was amazing. Even in Africa at a market Rod started to speak with a women who’s husband had died and she had hungry children at home. Not missing a beat Rod bought her a big bag of potatoes and other bags of vegetables to help her family. At another village in Kenya, the water tank had been empty and the water truck pulled up but they didn’t have the money to pay for the water so off went Bruce and Rod managed to flag the driver down give him the needed cash and the water tank was filled for the village to have clean drinking water. Over the years Rod and Marnie also discovered and loved a piece of paradise in St. Martin. In 2009, they were able to buy a studio room in a resort in a beautiful part of St Martin in Grand Case. Good friends from Midland Carolyn and Bryan spent many vacations in the sun with mom and dad at Grand Case. Other friends and family spent vacations with them in other parts of the world or on many cruises that they were fortunate to go on. Rod enjoyed seeing new places and learning about where he was and how he could help people.
In 2018 we moved again to Hamilton to be closer to the kids. Even in a retirement community isolation was hard as Covid hit to settle into this new area. As the dementia progressed before he fell he had a hard time keeping things straight as so much was new and he more and more confused.
During his last year he was in the hospital and at Shalom Village starting with a fall breaking his hip and the dementia progressing rapidly. Tucker his dog visiting (with his driver Marnie) and photos of Sunny the cat gave him great comfort. He was also given a digital photo frame that we were able to upload photos of family, friends and places he’d travelled and he would somehow find those memories and was able to talk about the places and people up to the last few days with us. Giving him great comfort.
Rod was at Shalom for about 9 months and received exceptional care and he even had impact with helping another resident playing Bingo and the staff enjoyed his sense of humour. One of his comments to Marnie while at Shalom was “I help people that’s what I’ve always done and stood for” many of you would agree.
Rod was a funny, good humoured, good man and right to his last hours he always had a funny thing to say and as you can see had a great smile. He loved helping people and did so even into his time at Shalom, it was a fundamental piece of him.
The family did share with me that many of you at this service were baptized, married, had loved ones buried by Rod and some folks a combination of these life events over the years. He was impactful to many of you and I know you have fond memories of Rod. And the family would like to thank you very much for attending and celebrating Rod’s impact in this world that he strived to make better where he could.
A Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at GRACE ANGLICAN CHURCH, 157 Mill St. N., Waterdown beginning at 1 p.m. with a time to gather with the family at 12:30 p.m. Interment to follow in the church cemetery.
Donations in lieu of flowers to the Cancer Assistance Program, the Pulmonay Fibrosis Society of Canada, Shalom Village or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.
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We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Rev Canon Rodney Hugh Barlow June 23 1943
May 23 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.