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Barbara Grace Theresa Agnew (Lane) obituary
February 11, 1937 – October 5, 2023ĺ
Our mom, Barb, was born on February 11, 1937, in Paris, Ontario. She attended Central Elementary School and high school in Paris.
Barb is predeceased by her parents, Viola (Dawson) Lane in 1982 and Thomas Lane in 1996; her brother, Bob Lane in 2020; and her husband, Basil Agnew on April 26, 2022.
She is survived by her six children: Patrick (Renee van Meirlo) of Seven Sisters Falls, MB; Mike of Fox Creek, AB; Theresa (Dave Buchanan) of Edmonton, AB; Joan (Tim Kohut) of Morinville, AB; Clare of Morden, MB; and Bob (Shauna) of Morden, MB. She also is survived by her grandchildren: Dion Palumbo (Jun); Lisa Bellerose Kendall (Ryan Kendall) of Penhold, AB; Kimberley Bellerose of Penhold, AB; Amy Voloshanovskiy (Ivan) of Winnipeg, MB; Jenna Doherty (Dylan Reimer) of Crystal City, MB; Erin Doherty (Ted Lea) of Manitou, MB; Max Buchanan (Sadey Hamilton) of Edmonton, AB; Evan Kohut of Morinville, AB; and Caslan Buchanan of Edmonton, AB; as well as three great-grandchildren (Gabby, Myah, and Isla) and 17 nieces and nephews.
Barb began working in the Stedmans store in Paris, Ontario, in October, 1954, and on May 21, 1956, married the boss, Basil Joseph Agnew. On their honeymoon in New York City, Barb and Bas were so excited to see Jackie Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers take on Hank Aaron’s Milwaukee Braves. When they returned home, they moved into their first home in Paris, ON. The Stedmans company took Barb and Basil to many locations across Canada: Melfort, SK (1958); Drumheller, AB (1959); Red Deer, AB (1964); Souris, MB (1965); and finally to Morden, MB (1970). With each move, Barb had the difficult task of packing and unpacking, sometimes living in cramped rental homes, fitting in with new neighbours, and getting her six kids settled into school.
Barb was a major contributor to the success of the Stedmans store in Morden. With six children to get off to school, she still managed to have lunches ready, beds made, breakfast dishes done, and even a load of laundry cleaned before she arrived at the store at 9:15 a.m. She was back at the house by 4 o’clock to greet the kids when they got home from school. At least five evenings a week, all eight of us sat down at the table to have dinner as a family. No TV or radio allowed during supper, just family conversation. With Barb in charge, things were always organized.
Barb was a stay-at-home type of person, but she did enjoy the trips she took with Bas to Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Yukon, Alaska, Mexico, Texas, San Diego, and Arizona. She particularly loved Florida and Hawaii, traveling to each place three or four times. As well, she traveled through every province in Canada, loving all of the tourist attractions.
Mom enjoyed decorating her home with flowers (usually plastic) and wreaths, playing cards, watching Hallmark Christmas movies (at any time of year), cheering on her Winnipeg Jets, eating hotdogs and drinking beer. She loved Grey Cup and St. Patrick’s Day parties; family euchre tournaments; bingo, coffee and happy hour at Vista Terrace, and running into neighbours and friends at the Thrift Store or Giant Tiger. She especially loved when the whole family got together, which often happened around her and Basil’s wedding anniversary.
We’ll miss you mom, but we are so happy that you will be reunited with dad for happy hour cribbage matches forever.
Barb and her family are deeply grateful for the care she received at the Boundary Trails Health Centre in the last weeks of her life.
Cremation has taken place. There will be a reception at Wiebe Funeral Chapel from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14. Donations may be made in Barb’s memory to the Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation, designated to Palliative Care.