Barbara ALLEN

ALLEN, Barbara Mary Kantor
Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Artist
Admired and Loved by All Who Knew Her
In profound sorrow the family of Barbara Mary Kantor Allen announces her peaceful passing at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto on Thursday, June 26, 2014, with the strength, grace and dignity that marked her life and in the warm embrace of her family and friends. Born in New Brunswick in 1937, Barbara was raised in Montreal, lived in Baie d'Urfe, Quebec following her marriage, and has been a resident of Toronto for the last 35 years and a seasonal resident of Muskoka almost as long. She leaves to mourn her passing in Toronto her heart-broken husband of fifty years, Clive Allen, her devoted and deeply-loved sons Drew (and his wife, Susan) and Blair, and her most precious grandchildren, the joy of her life, Matthew, Meredith and Wesley. She also leaves her sisters Irene Flynn (Robert) in Chicago, Ill., Mary Edwards (the late Dr. John) in Pennsylvania, and Mary Stoddart and Nancy Navora in Montreal, as well as their families.
Following graduation from high school in Montreal, Barbara commenced her post-secondary schooling at Concordia University and concluded her studies with a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts - Studio) from the University of Toronto. In her younger days, she was an avid skier and tennis player, and continued her tennis in Toronto at the Granite Club. Always interested in the Arts, she was a long-time member of the Arts & Letters Club and an enthusiastic member of the Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts. While in Montreal, Barbara was a supporter of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra; in Toronto, she was a long-time supporter of the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada, in addition to various museums and galleries.
Barbara was beautiful, dignified and elegant in her dress and manner, concerned with the well-being of others, and had the good fortune to travel widely throughout the world where she had many friends, all of whom have been both shocked and saddened by her passing.
Barbara and her family are deeply appreciative of the care she received while under treatment at the Princess Margaret Hospital, care which reflected not only the highest level of medical skills and knowledge, but also compassion and support for the person and family. She was particularly appreciative of the efforts of Dr. Stéphane Laframboise and Dr. Helen MacKay, and their respective colleagues, as well as the doctors, nurses and staff of the Palliative Care Centre.
As much as Barbara loved flowers, the family wishes no floral tributes. The family will provide all flowers so as to respect her preferences. Barbara, however, would encourage donations in her memory to be made to the Barbara Allen Ovarian Cancer Fund, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. at the Carfrae Chapel of Mount Pleasant Cemetery between Yonge Street and Mount Pleasant Road in Toronto. The Service of Thanksgiving for Barbara's Life will be held on Thursday July 3 , 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. James, 65 Church Street (at King), Toronto, the Very Reverend Douglas Stoute officiating. A reception will follow. Interment in the family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery will be private.