RAE, Barbara Joyce

May 17, 1930 - January 3, 2021

Life with Barbara was always an adventure. Whether starting a new business, travels to the unknown, or skiing Whistler slopes into her 80s, Barb just didn't let anything get in her way.

If you knew Barbara, you knew a trailblazer who had boundless energy and channelled it well. She rose from being a secretary who could type 120 words a minute to running one of Canada's largest temp agencies, Office Assistance Canada Ltd. (now ADECCO) and became both BC and Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year in the process. She was Chancellor of SFU and a keen supporter of their women's basketball team and served on national and international boards too numerous to mention.

Few could keep up with Barb. In her early 70s, while most of us would likely be enjoying a quiet retirement, Barbara discovered the potential of home staging while vacationing in California. She went on to co-found DEKORA Staging Inc. in Vancouver, expanding the business to Calgary in 2008.

Today the world has a little less energy as Barbara, Barb, Boobie, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 3rd.

Honoured with the Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia, along with a Jubilee medal from the Queen, she was very proud of her accomplishments but didn't talk about them much. Instead, she preferred talking about her first love ... family and friends. Particularly her beloved son Jamie and her husband George Suart who both meant the absolute world to her but sadly both predeceased her. Barbara is also survived by sons Glenn (Michele) and John (Theresa), grandchildren Connor, Cole, Maddie, Celeste and Michael, her beloved sisters Carol and Kathy, nephews Mark and Dean, nieces Sandie, Lori and Carol, cousin Ron and family far and wide.

Many, many thanks to her thoughtful and caring caregivers (Carlene, Loida and Maddie) who made her last few years a bit better every day.

A service will be held in the future to celebrate Barb's incredible life, followed by a reception at one of her and George's most favourite places in the world ... the Capilano Golf and Country Club. When beloved family and friends are able to gather, we will share one last Happy Hour, in full, Barb and George West Vancouver/Whistler style.

For those of you lucky enough to have known Barbara, her loss will be deeply felt. She was an important influence on the younger generations of our family and we all owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her inspiration and mentorship. The same is true for the many others whose lives she influenced, encouraged and supported.

Now reunited with Jamie and George ... Barb is on to her next great adventure.