BARBARA ANN PALMER

(June 18, 1929 - January 31, 2026) Barbara passed away on the evening of January 31, 2026, in Calgary. It had been a day full of happy visits with family and friends. Barbara lived in Calgary for the better part of her life, but she grew up in the Maritimes – first in Prince Edward Island and then in Nova Scotia. Those early years in the Maritimes gave her a love of the ocean, and throughout her life she maintained that she loved the ocean even more than she loved the mountains of Alberta. Barbara attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, and completed her B.A. in 1952. During those years, she managed to steal the heart of James S. Palmer who, the story goes, had actually fallen for Barbara many years earlier ... in elementary school! Barbara and Jim would marry in 1952. The two of them were adventurous souls, and at the age of 23, they left the Maritimes and headed across the country to what was then a very young city of Calgary. Barbara settled into her new home and began a lifetime of involvement in the Calgary community. Barbara's days were always full. There were four daughters. And there was Jim, always on the go, and needing someone to keep up with him. Barbara managed to do that. Her house was beautifully decorated and spotless. She was a great Mum, and a wonderful hostess, often welcoming newcomers to Calgary by holding lunches or dinners to introduce them to the community. Throughout her life, Barbara found time to do volunteer work, helping such organizations as the AlphaGam and the Junior League, singing in the Christ Church choir, and serving on the Altar Guild. Barbara also became actively involved in many causes she believed in. Through philanthropy, she supported organizations such as Discovery House and the Calgary Homeless Foundation. Her love of art and music motivated her to support a range of arts entities in Calgary, including the Calgary Philharmonic, Contemporary Calgary, the Glenbow Museum and one of her greatest passions – the Alberta Ballet. Barbara was competitive in most endeavours, including bridge and sports. Her competitive nature came through on the tennis court where she had a regular foursome until well into her seventies. Her opponents complained that she was too consistent. When Barbara stopped playing, she watched tennis with almost as much vigour as she had played. Barbara's life was synonymous with beauty. She herself was a natural beauty, and she had an elegance and grace and sense of style that never left her. She had a wonderful eye for fashion, and a talent for interior decorating. She saw and was moved by beauty in so many places: in a vase of flowers, a painting, a piece of music, a view, a ballet. Barbara's beauty was accompanied by a warm and sunny disposition. She brought sunshine into any room she entered. She was fun – even her daughters thought so. Her laughter filled the air. Barbara leaves close family and friends. She is survived by her four daughters, Valerie (Gary), Noelle, Jane, and Sarah (Tom); her six grandchildren, Oliver (Kendra), Jarrod (Danna), Emma (Rowan) Liam (Megan), Thea, and John; her great grandchildren, Callum, Owen, Isabella and Maxwell; her niece, Katherine Wright; and her nephews, Hugh Wright and David Quigley: and by Shawna Quigley and Meagan Quigley. Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Jim; her brother, Gordon Quigley; her sisters-in-law, Shirley Quigley and Suzanne Wright; and her nephew, Brent Quigley. A special thanks to Dr. Caine, Surbhi Kohli, Dorothy Gachuhi, Siobhan Duggan, and others who helped care for Barbara. The funeral service will be held at Christ Church (3602 – 8th St. SW Calgary) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the arts.