With sadness in our hearts, we share the passing of our dear mother Jackie on Saturday, October 31st, 2020, at St. Boniface Hospital, in Winnipeg, MB, at the age of 64.

 

She was predeceased by her beloved parents John (Jack) Barnable and Margaret Barnable (nee Crane) and numerous cherished aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

 

Leaving to mourn are her three children Courtney Dyson (Alec), Adam Dyson and Joel Dyson of Winnipeg, their father and her lifelong friend Kirk Dyson, and her two grandchildren Abigail (along with her mom Roxane) and Kaia.

 

Also mourning her loss, brother Neil Barnable (Lisa) of Winnipeg, sisters Judy Shadlock (Ian) of Norwich, UK and Wendy Barnable (Tim) of Halifax, NS; their children Maggie (Ethan) and Kate Barnable of Winnipeg, MB and Kyle (Evlyn) and Kaitlyn Shadlock of Norwich, UK; Justin Godwin (Courtney), who was as dear to her as a son, and their daughter Gracie; godson Michael Penney and the Penney family; and a huge extended family of Barnables, Cranes, Dysons, McLeans and more scattered far and wide that she loved deeply.

 

Mom was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and grew up in a loving home, the oldest of four children. Her mother was a teacher, her father a fireman, she was proud of them and held a deep admiration for them both. She spent her early years in the beautiful southern shore community of Ferryland, NL and in 1964 the family moved to Goose Bay, Labrador. She often reminisced about her happy childhood in warm, inviting homes full of extended family and friends and mused that growing up on “Sunny Hill in Ferryland” and “Pleasant Avenue in Happy Valley” was too idyllic for most to believe.

 

In 1976, in search of adventure and opportunity, she travelled with friends across Canada, finally setting down roots and starting her family in Winnipeg. Mom then spent over 25 years at the Department of Justice, retiring in 2016 as the Director of Judicial Support. She took great pride in her work, mentoring others and making many lasting friendships.

 

In retirement, Mom fully devoted herself to her beautiful grandchildren Abbi and Kaia, to traveling and connecting with her friends and cherishing every moment with her family.

 

Our mom was so smart; an encyclopedia of knowledge. She couldn’t be stumped on any subject from history, politics and current affairs to music, TV and movies, and could devour people at Scrabble. She was funny, with an acerbic wit and a nerdy goofiness. Her sense of humour made hard times easier and happy times all the better.

 

Mom was beautiful on the inside and out. She was kind to the core, with a gentle nature and a special mix of common sense, insight and humour. She was thoughtful, introspective and unselfish. Many looked to her as a guide, mentor, and confidante – a trusted shoulder to cry on and a friend who would share wholeheartedly in your grief or happiness. She opened her heart and home to anyone who needed her.

 

To her own mother, Mom was sometimes “the rebel” and to her siblings, she was the “free spirit”. But when it came to family, she was as traditional as could be. She loved her big extended clan, valued its history and believed in keeping stories, memories and connections alive. This is a gift she hands down to us and our children.

 

The health issues Mom faced made her realize that time is short, family is everything and to enjoy the little things in life. From the day she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 14, she took control of her health, and faced ongoing setbacks, hospital stays and serious complications with unbelievable courage and dignity, and her trademark pragmatism and humour.

 

She spent her final hours surrounded in love by her family and favourite music. She passed peacefully and with grace. Her spirit is now truly free.

 

We would like to thank the incredible staff at the Intensive Care Cardiac Surgery (ICCS) unit at St. Boniface for their care of Mom during her two-month stay.

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Cremation has taken place. A memorial and celebration of Jackie's life will be held at a later date, when we are safely able to come together. In the meantime, Jackie’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by watching the photo-biography above. They also encourage the sharing of photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St, Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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