June 3, 1929 – November 10, 2021
After 33,763 sunrises, Barb quietly slipped away due to natural causes. Her coffee, cookie, and most recent cross-stitch Christmas stocking project at her side. Barb was born in Lethbridge, growing up in Claresholm and Calgary. In 1952 she graduated from the Calgary General Hospital nursing school with life-long friends. She was on the organizing committee for the annual reunion almost every year, including the upcoming 60th.
Barb married Donald Elves in 1954, was mother to Richard (Leslie), Ronald, and Joanne (Jeff Wearmouth), Grandma to Melissa (Eric), Brittany (Shae), Clay and Bonnie, and Great Grandma to Avery, Mack, Sawyer and Vaughn.
As well as nursing, Barb was a librarian at F.E. Osborne JH for many years. After retirement, she volunteered with her church making quilts for shelters, enjoyed puttering around in Don’s 1915 Model T Ford and helping with the grandkids. After Don passed away in 1999, she enjoyed travelling with her brother Gordon, and Sheilah.
Barb always had a craft on the go, sitting in the bright sunlight in the living room she would stitch and wave at her friends in the cul-de-sac. All her nephews, grandkids, great grandkids, and many others had quilts, knitted sweaters and hats. The coveted needlepoint Christmas stockings are a beautiful legacy everyone fortunate enough to have one will cherish forever.
Barb was one of the lucky ones. She was healthy and independent to the last second. In all her 92.5 years, she was never in the hospital as a patient other than to have her children. She still lived in her own home, drove her car and even bought a chainsaw to manage the trees in the yard. Yeah, her hip was bugging her lately but that didn’t stop her last summer from riding the chairlift at Norquay and trying the demo wall for the Via Ferrata.
Sure, she had quirks like talking with her mouth full, interrupting sentences, dressing very casually in sweatshirts adorned in kitty motifs and, she put housekeeping low on the chore list. BUT she welcomed everyone warmly into her home, was kind, forgiving, thoughtful and constantly witty. She always looked for the good in people and put family and friendship first. So, who cares about the dust.
If COVID rules allow, if you are family or close friends, a mock tea party (no refreshments) and craft display will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021 between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. at her home. Proof of vaccination is mandatory as are masks. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.leydens.com.