top of page

Barbara Piper

Image by Nick Andréka

BARBARA ELLEN PIPER

(née HESELTON)

July 20, 1953 - October 31, 2023

Barbara Ellen Piper (Heselton) passed away peacefully in the company of her family at the age of 70, on October 31, 2023 at the Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

 

Barbara was born on July 20, 1953 in New Westminster, British Columbia to parents Jack and Rose Heselton. She grew up in Haney amongst a large and loving extended family. When Barbara was 11, her family moved to Prince George initiating her perpetual and explicit dislike of cold and snow. She moved back to Burnaby, BC as a young adult, embracing the more temperate climate, and later, her husband of 39 years, Kevin Piper.

 

Barbara was first and foremost a loving wife to her husband, Kevin, and a devoted mother to her two daughters, Julianne and Jessica Piper. She was a source of immeasurable love and support, and will forever be their greatest cheerleader.  Barbara created a home filled with warmth and laughter, and was happiest surrounded by her family and many friends.

 

The family home she lovingly created with Kevin and their two girls in Burnaby was a place of gathering. Barbara loved hosting, and would often bring together neighbours, friends and family for evenings of music and unparalleled home-made feasts and treats.  She leaves behind a legacy of kindness and generosity, having instilled values of humility, compassion, and the ability to find light and humour through the toughest times in life.

 

To spend more time with her girls, Barbara took a career hiatus and ran a home-based daycare for 10 years, through which many lifelong neighbourhood connections and friendships were nurtured. As the girls progressed through school at Douglas Road and Burnaby Central, Barbara enthusiastically stepped up to help out any way she could; from haunted house curator to crosswalk supervisor; school-play Santa to band trip fundraiser. 

 

Barb loved shopping, especially for fabulous shoes. Girls’ trips to Birch Bay, WA frequently brought together different friends and family for memorable weekends featuring fashion shows, good food, and of course, wine. Her passion for travelling further afield was sparked by a trip to Paris with five close girlfriends, the memories of which she would revisit with joy and laughter for years to follow, and in particular the valuable phrase “Je voudrais un verre de vin blanc s’il vous plaît.” 

 

In retirement, she planned and enjoyed many international adventures with Kevin and her family, including to Europe, Australia and South America. When not adventuring abroad, Barbara was dedicated to building community in Kelowna, B.C. where she and Kevin retired to, and renovated their dream home in a duplex next door to her mum, sister and brother-in-law. Barbara and Kevin’s years in Kelowna were shaped by hosting visiting friends and family; staying active through a wonderful community they became a part of at the Rutland YMCA; and a love of good food and wine. Barbara sang in the Kelowna Community Chorus and took a number of classes at the Okanagan Community College. She enjoyed frequent family visits, especially when her “grand-dog” CTD (aka Charlie the Dog) tagged along (he often garnered the greatest proportion of presents at Piper family Christmases).

 

Barbara was diagnosed with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy in 2017, which resulted in a fiercely fought battle with progressive dementia. In 2019 she reluctantly overcame her dislike of all things winter, and relocated to Winnipeg, MB to be closer to family support. Barbara continued to enjoy time spent with family, food, and wine. She loved attending live musical performances and events, and continued to make friends and build community everywhere she went.

 

Barbara will be missed by her husband Kevin, and her family: daughter Jessica Piper and her partner Bradley Lenk; daughter Julianne Piper, her husband Evan Duly and son Aaron Duly. She is also survived by her siblings: Gordon and Naomi Heselton, Mike and Laura Heselton, and Kathy and Dale Blanchard. Barbara was predeceased by her brother David Heselton and beloved Aunt Lillian Heselton.

 

The family will be planning a celebration in honour of Barbara’s life for Spring 2023, in the BC Lower Mainland: details will be shared in the coming weeks. 

 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following charities that reflect her compassion and deeply held personal values:

​

Centre Flavie (Winnipeg, MB)

​

Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (Vancouver, BC)

 

Barbara will be dearly missed and fondly remembered. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her loved ones, and her vibrant spirit will continue to bring joy to those who were fortunate to know her. May she rest in peace.

​

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

​

Memories, Stories and Condolences

 

Please share a story, photo, memory or condolence for the family by completing the form below and clicking "Post Comment"

Thank you for your comment!

3 Comments

Leave a Comment

↑ Both fields are required ↓

Upload Photo(s)

Roanda Heye

November 7, 2023 at 3:00 PM

I’m so sorry to hear of this great loss.  I knew Barb almost as long as Gordon having gone to school with her.  We lost touch but reconnected in our senior years.  One never had to worry about conversations in Barb’s presence.  She had an amazing gift to keep it going.  She was vivacious and unendingly kind.  My sincere condolences to the family.  I’m sure she is creating new community in the presence of our Lord.
Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

1/12

Pat and Kirk Rothenberger

November 4, 2023 at 3:23 PM

Kirk and I had the privilege of travelling with Kevin and Barb in May 2017. We had talked about sharing our love of cruising for a couple of years and finally made it happen that year by taking a Northern European Cruise together.  She and I had a few discussions and laughs (after a couple of glasses of wine at the lounge) about how women of a certain age could train their bladder to defy needing a bathroom every two hours. I of course was skeptical and thought she was nuts, but she was very persuasive  😄. It was the rip of a lifetime and we shared many laughs and swapped a lot of stories about our daily adventures together during those 2 fabulous weeks.  She had a keen mind and a sharp wit that never failed to make me laugh. There are other memories for sure, but this trip stands out because all 4 of us were pretty much at the same stage of life and could appreciate each other as friends and not just family. Barb shared her pride and love for her girls through the stories she regaled us with. Our hearts (mine and Kirk's) ache for their loss and for Kevin's. We hope this fond and happy memory we shared reinforce the positive impact Barb had on other people's lives too. Once again, our deepest condolences to Kevin, Jessica, Julianne and rest of the family.❤
Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

1/12

Gordon Heselton

November 4, 2023 at 3:21 PM

So many good memories, Barb.  I was three (actually two years and 360 days, but who’s counting?) when you were born so I have a lot of recollections from the very beginning.  One of the most memorable goes back to preschool days when we shared a bedroom.  Two single beds close enough together that I could hold your hand at bedtime.  I recall many good times when we as kids were together with cousins Greg and Kevin, close enough in age to be best friends.  Playing games like hide and seek, frozen tag etc.  Being in Sunday School together but not being allowed to sit together in church service as some adults thought there might be some distracting behaviour.  When we moved to Prince George in the ‘60s we were old enough for doing chores, most notably dinner dishes.  The big question, who’s turn is it to wash, alternating day by day?  When drying I confess that not all the dishes I put back in the sink necessarily needed rewashing.  But then, that was a two way street.  The bickering was so bad that mom decided enough was enough.  Now the alternating child had to both wash and dry.  I suspect we were also supposed to put the dishes away but I wonder how often that happened.  I remember your wedding where Gabrielle was your flower girl.  You were truly blest to have a loving husband in Kevin.  You made a great couple!  And two lovely girls for a loving and involved mother.  I will continue to include Kevin, Jessica and Brad, Julianne and Evan and Aaron in my prayers  Barb, you had an opinion on just about anything.  And we did not always see eye to eye.  Hard to believe you might not agree with your older and wiser brother.  Admittedly I sometimes liked to “poke the bear.”  Usually just to see how far I could get the topic off track.  Mea culpa, I might even try, not necessarily succeeding, steering the conversation until you ended up at a place contradicting our original matter.  Of course, Barb, you were the consummate hostess.  I remember the Christmas dinners at your home in Kelowna, and not to diminish Kevin’s contributions, you were a great cook and gracious hostess.  I confess to not always being the best brother, but, I believe I was always forgiven.  I recall your last phone call to me over a year ago, as your final decline was really advancing.  It was hard to know what to say to you but I was happy to hear from you.  I didn’t realize it was the last time we would talk in this life.  However, trusting in the gracious promises of Christ our Saviour, I am looking forward to seeing you again in the resurrection.  Until then rest in peace sister.  1 Corinthians 15:51-56  ESV 51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55“O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

Add a Title
Add a Title

Describe your image

1/12
bottom of page