MACPHERSON, Barbara “Barb” Jean
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we, the family, announce that Barbara “Barb” Jean MacPherson, nee Kenney, died unexpectedly at home on March 17, 2017. She was 71 years of age.
Barb is survived by her devoted husband of more than 47 years, Malcolm Lawrence “Larry” MacPherson, originally of New Waterford and now of Ben Eoin. Together, they built wonderful things together - a life that took them from coast to coast; a family of bright, successful boys; and in their later years, the Birches at Ben Eoin, an Inn and restaurant in which she took immense pride.
She is also survived by her sons, Donald (Emily Bell), of Fredericton, N.B., Derek (Alexandra), of Barrie, Ont., Darcy, of Winnipeg, Man. and Devan (Kendra), of Calgary, Alta.
Barb was also blessed in recent years with a grandson, Callum, 6, of Fredericton; and a granddaughter, Ryan, 1, of Barrie. She beamed every moment she saw them and spent with them. Also left behind and saddened by the loss are numerous siblings on both sides of the Kenney and MacPherson families, for whom Barb was a literal and figurative elder sister.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, James and Cathy (Bauer) Kenney, originally of Sydney, N.S.
Born and raised in Montreal, Barb attended St. Francis Xavier University, Class of 1967.
Larry tells the story of how they met thusly: Barb, looking for her soulmate, knelt on a sidewalk in Montreal and prayed, saying, “Dear Saint Ann, send me a man. Send me Larry MacPherson if you can.”
In reality, they met while teaching. They fell in love in British Columbia, married in Montreal and eventually settled in Charlottetown, P.E.I., where they raised their family. After the boys were grown, they retired, but it didn’t take. They embarked on new professional adventures, first taking them to Labrador and eventually back to their roots in Cape Breton. Barb loved cooking, quilting, reading and pretending to laugh at Larry’s jokes.
In leiu of flowers donations in Barb’s memory can be made to St. Mary’s Church, East Bay.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation for Barb will be held on Monday March 20, 2017 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in the SW Chant & Son Funeral Home, 564 Alexandra St., Sydney.
Funeral mass will take place the following day, Tuesday March 21, at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Parish, East Bay, with Fr. Frank Abbass officiating
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.chantfuneralhome.ca.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of...