BARBARA ANN ELLIS

BARBARA ANN ELLIS (nee BURGENER) July 25, 1930 - January 17, 2014 Peacefully at home surrounded by family. Beloved wife of Don and loving mother of Patricia, Susan Reain (Bruce), Stevan (Ruth) and Valerie Dixon and cherished grandmother to Tyler, Sarah, Genevieve, David, Daniel, Mitchell, Jamie and Heather. Affectionately remembered by Garth Vanclieaf, Terry Austin, Kirk Dixon, nieces and nephews and their families and by many others whose lives she touched. Survived by her older brother Robert (Jean) Burgener and sister-in-law Jane Burgener all from Toronto, brothers and sister-in-law Jim and Chris Ellis from Baysville, and Edward Janveau formerly from Oshawa. Predeceased by parents Christian and Patricia (Zieman), brothers Richard and Fred and sister-in-law Patricia Janveau (Ellis). Barbara was born in Toronto and grew up in The Beach, south of Queen. She learned to boat at the Balmy Beach Canoe Club. She attended Malvern Collegiate Institute where she was the first female Student Council President in the City of Toronto and an accomplished athlete. She enjoyed life at the cottage on Tooke Lake in Muskoka where family and friends are invited to gather on Saturday, July 26, 2014 to celebrate her life and scatter her ashes as per her wish. Barbara was an avid volunteer throughout her life devoting countless hours for the benefit of others, most notably UNICEF. Even though her last few years had been a struggle with several significant health challenges, she maintained a positive attitude, sense of humour, and always reminded us to "count our blessings one by one". She used to quote a phrase that her mother had said to her, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." (Deuteronomy 33-25). We will remember those sayings with thanks to you mom for guiding our way. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation (Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare) would be appreciated and can be made through www.mitchellfuneralhome.ca