BARBARA ALICE HOPE (FINDLAY) HICKS

1933 - 2024

Barbara Alice Hope (Findlay) Hicks 1933 to 2024 Determined. Kind. Clever. Quietly radical. Admirer of a perfect pear. These are just a few of the descriptors of Barbara offered by friends and family this week. Barbara Findlay was born in a British army hospital in 1933. With the outbreak of World War II, she was sent to live with an aunt in Scotland. Although separated from her parents and siblings for long stretches, she spoke fondly of her childhood. As she entered her 20s in post-war London, Barbara realized she wanted to see the world. After training as a librarian, she secured a job in a Canadian university library and packed her bags. She found a place to live, made new friends and pursued a degree. In the early 1960s, she met a red-headed Canadian named Michael Hicks at a Student Christian Movement meeting in Toronto. He was smitten with her combination of brains, beauty, independent spirit, and humour. A first date at Fran's Restaurant on St Clair led to marriage, followed by the birth of three daughters. The family eventually settled in Ottawa, where Barbara re-entered the workforce full-time as a librarian. She loved her career, especially her work at the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, the National Library of Canada, and as Chief Librarian at St. Paul University. Equally committed to community engagement, she was awarded several distinctions for her volunteer work over the decades. At home, she and Michael created a loving and welcoming environment full of laughter, music, and conversation. Their house became a hangout of choice for their daughters' friends. When grandkids arrived, Barbara delighted in carrying out her "granny duties". A beloved aunt, great-aunt and cousin to many dozens of relatives on both sides of the pond, Barbara worked hard to ensure her "Maple Leaf" children were well connected to her family in Scotland and England. As her mental and physical capacities waned, Barbara spent the last few years at the Glebe Centre and thrived in their engaging and cozy environment. In the last days of Barbara's life, old friends and staff dropped in to hold her hand, share stories, sing and shed a few tears. It was clear that even with dementia, Barbara's light shone brightly. She is remembered with great love by daughters Jennifer, Margaret, and Sarah; grandchildren Mark, Carolyn, and Meredith Nicol, Santiago and Juan Ainslie, and Oscar and Ben Leckman; sons-in-law Bruce Ainslie and Michael Leckman; multiple generations of nieces, nephews and cousins; and friends of all ages. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Michael Hicks; her parents, Brigadier Charles Findlay CBE MC and Mary (Paterson) Findlay; sisters Jean Ker, Molly Findlay and Nan Maitland; and brother John Findlay. We invite friends and family to join us for a celebration of Barbara's life on August 26 at 11 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks Street, Ottawa. The family hopes to livestream the celebration of life and will add the link to the Beechwood Cemetery website, where friends and family are also invited to share memories of Barbara (https://www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/services/barbara-alice-hope-findlay-hicks). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Glebe Centre long-term care home in Ottawa or a Charity of Your Choice.