Barbara Louise LABBETT

BARBARA LOUISE LABBETT (née PARSONS) It is with great sadness but peace in our hearts that we announce the gentle passing of our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Barbara Louise Labbett, in her 87th year on August 24, 2023. Gone ahead and waiting to embrace her are her beloved parents, Herbert John Parsons and Phyllis Edna Parsons; her brother, John Parsons; and lifelong friend, Roberta Paterson. Deeply missing the love of his life is her devoted husband of 68 years, Bob Labbett. Barbara left a legacy of love in her son, Craig Labbett (Cheryl); daughters, Sharon Labbett and Sandra Laurence (Bob); cherished grandchildren, Kristie Labbett Hanley (Craig), Kimmi Labbett (Matt), Jackie Noble LeGresley (Dan), Scott Noble, Adam Laurence and Jaimie Laurence Goodman (Matt); and in her great-grandchildren, Austin and Clark Hanley, Avery and Blake LeGresley, and Dallas and Sierra Goodman. Also left deeply missing Barbara are her cherished friend, Ed Mavrinac; and her beloved sister and best friend, Dorothy Ottaway. Barbara was born and grew up in the Beach of Toronto. She would often tell beautiful stories of a wonderful, carefree childhood in the closely-knit Beach community on the shores of Lake Ontario. In 1968, Barb and family moved to Waterloo and bought a golf course just north of Cambridge called Ranchlands. They changed the name to Beaverdale Golf and Country Club and over the next 20 years, Barb worked side by side with Bob to create a golf facility that was not only one of the best in the area for its physical condition, but very popular and well known as a fun and friendly club where members and non-members loved to be and were treated like family. Barbara ran the kitchen, planned and hosted countless functions and banquets, and participated in the countless members' events. While living in Waterloo, Barbara became very involved in the community through golf, curling, modelling, and volunteer work with Maycourt, the local hospital, playing piano at nursing homes, and as Chairman of the KW Philharmonic Choir. Missing the water, Barb and Bob moved to Oakville, and once again, Barb embraced her new community with volunteer and charitable work, playing the grand piano at the new Oakville-Trafalger Memorial Hospital and making many new friends. Barbara was an incredibly creative lady. She could sew, knit and crochet, often without a pattern. She painted briefly and her paintings adorn walls of the family cottage. Her gardens at their house and at the cottage were prominent works of art that many passersby could not help but stop and admire. But her truest gift and lifelong passion was music, and she shared her musical talent with everyone. She was a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in piano and theory and holds credits in music from Wilfred Laurier University. She taught piano in both in Waterloo and Oakville. When they moved to Oakville, she wanted to take her own knowledge and talents to an even higher level. This is when she met Ed Mavrinac, who would become not only her piano teacher, but a cherished friend for the next 30 years. Barb and Ed would play duets together at many functions over the years, making every event a joyous, musical occasion. Together, they brought out the very best of her talents. Up until her passing, they continued playing together, including very difficult duet pieces by Devorak. Family was the most important thing to Barb. She adored her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and their spouses, and her sweet baby great-grandchildren. She was very generous and thoughtful to her family, and showered us with gifts, outings, and her love and affection. There is a big hole in our family left by our matriarch's passing. She will be deeply missed by all of us, but she lives on in our hearts, in the faces of her children, the creativity of her grandchildren, and the eye colour of her great-grandchildren. Barb's family is profoundly grateful to the doctors and amazing nurses of Oakville-Trafalgar Hospital, 7th floor South, for their compassion, kindness and sensitivity shown to our mother and to us during this difficult journey. A musical celebration of a beautiful life will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Maple Grove United Church, 346 Maple Grove Drive, Oakville, ON. Visitation with the family at 1:00 p.m., musical celebration at 2:00 p.m. Refreshments to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Barbara's favourite charity, Covenant House Toronto. Arrangements entrusted to Kopriva-Taylor Community Funeral Home, Oakville.