We Remember
LARSON, Barbara
—
Passed away peacefully in Kelowna, BC with family by her side on Friday, June 17, 2016, our beautiful Babs/Mum/Gram, Barbara Anne (née Sayers) Larson at the age of 96. Predeceased by her husband Ed Larson, survived by her son Geoffrey Gooderham (Miriam Pearlman) of Toronto, daughter Christine Abougoush (Kamel) of Kelowna and stepson John Larson (Phyllis Carroll) of Halifax. Also predeceased by stepdaughter Helen Doherty (John) of Halifax. Barbara is survived by grandchildren Andrew (Sandra) Gooderham, Christopher (Erin McGauley) Gooderham, Ryan Abougoush, Callie Abougoush, step-granddaughter Veronica Larson, step-grandsons Tom & Jim Doherty, step-grandchildren Jennifer Pearlman (Brian Moskowitz), Shane (Nicole) Pearlman, great-grandchildren Ellie, Wren, Owen, step-great-grandchildren Charlie, James, Sophie, David. Born in Toronto, raised in Clarkson (Mississauga) Babs/Mum/Gram, always beautiful and elegant, wore many hats throughout her lifetime -devoted daughter, loving mother, step-mother, grandparent and great-grandparent, family historian, artist, hostess, traveller, pioneer on Raven Lake, and benefactor of Benares Historic House in Mississauga, her ancestral family home. What a long and lively life she had! Her memory will be cherished. May it be for a blessing.
A Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 11:00 am at Benares Museum, 1507 Clarkson Road N. Mississauga, ON. Should family or friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 2M9.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”
Service
Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 11:00 am
Location
Benares Museum
Share with Others:
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 610 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 2M9
Service Information
Service Details
The service for LARSON, Barbara is scheduled for Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 11:00 am. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
Benares Museum
1507 Clarkson Road N. Mississauga, ON
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
I am very sorry to hear of Barbara’s passing. She was a great source of information about her family, the Sayers, and their historic home, Benares. Please pass on my sincere sympathy to her family.
To Geoffrey, Christine and family; My most sincere sympathy on the passing of your dear Mum. As you will recall my father Gordon Whitney enjoyed many fine times with your mother and your family over several years. He greatly enjoyed her company and the numerous social events they shared together. She was most certainly a lively addition to his own life. My siblings and I also had the pleasure of her company on many holiday occasions and we certainly admired the interesting and fulfilling life she shared via her entertaining stories. In recent years it has been remarkable to see her painting talents on Christmas cards. She was most certainly a remarkable woman. My only surprise is that she did not live to 100+++ but I am happy for all that her passing was gentle.
No doubt you have a lifetime of happy memories to cherish and enjoy. Thinking of you all at this sad time.
Warm Regards, Janet Whitney
Dear Geoffrey Gooderham Larson and Family,
I was sorry to learn of the death of your mother, Barbara Larson.
I did not know her well, but our paths crossed over a common interest in Benares.
My father was the Rector at St Peter’s Erindale, which was the Parish Church of Miss Harris and Geoff and Kaye Sayers. Geoff was very active in the Parish and was a great friend of my father.
As a child I visited with Miss Harris and Miss Kay, playing the player Piano and having tea and biscuits, before getting on my bike and riding back to Erindale.
Years later, when I was doing graduate work at U of T, I used family letters that were in the possession of Kaye Sayers, to enliven a thesis on American Influences on the Educational and Religious Institutions of Upper Canada 1790-1840.
I believe that these papers are now in the Benares Archives.
It was when I donated a couple of off prints from this document that I met Barbara.
She gave me a tour of the house and invited me back to her house for Tea.
We continued a periodic correspondence until she left for Kelowna.
I regret that I will be unable to attend the Celebration of Barbara’s Life on September 11.
Sincerely,
John Banks
Dear Geoffrey, Christine and all family members, I was so very saddened and surprised to hear about your wonderful mother’s passing. When I spoke to her at Christmas she was her motivated, joy for life self, still taking her ‘daily hikes’, as she termed her exercise. As you know, we got to know your mother very well as she shared time with our very special father, Gordon Whitney . She was with us for many family events and we always enjoyed her company and the stories she shared. We learned a lot about the area we all grew up in from your dear mother and I loved her art, she was so talented. I have saved every card she created and will cherish them in the future.
I know you have lots of wonderful memories and good times to cherish as you deal with this very sad and enormous loss. You can all certainly take comfort in the fact that Barbara lived a full and colourful life that is certainly to be celebrated.
I do sincerely regret that Ron and I are not able to attend the celebration of Barbara’s life on Sunday. My sincere condolences to all the family.
With fond memories, Kathryn Duke
I with to send my sincere and belated condolences on the passing of your mother “Babs” in June. I just found out by accident of her passing. You don’t know me, but Bab’s brother Geoffrey Sayers was my uncle by marriage to my Aunt Kay, who was my mother’s sister (my mother was Phyllis Colloton). I wish I had known earlier as I would definitely have gone to the memorial service at Benares. I was there many times, especially for Christmas celebrations (and the inevitable poker games). I also remember fondly your older generation family, Aunt Naomi (as I knew her – visited with her many times at Benares), plus, of course, Mrs. Sayers, with many visits to the Log House and Mr. Sayers several times. I also remember meeting Dora once as I recall, but I was much younger then.
In fact, I was just at Benares at couple of years ago for a tour (to restore old memories) plus touring the old stomping grounds (Kay and Geoff’s Birchwood home and the Sayers log house, plus my other mom’s family houses in Lorne Park).
Babs had sent me Aunt Kay’s Colloton family history that she had been working on, several years ago, but we hadn’t been in contact since.
Again, my sincere condolences for your loss, but Babs lived along and great life. Sorry for the lateness in getting back to you.
Peter Barr, Box 180, Burk’s Falls, Ontario. P0A 1C0