Madeleine, Jean-Pierre and family
My deepest sympathies Madeleine.
Que mon soutien
réchauffe votre coeur
HOLDEN (NÉE BLACK), Barbara Élaine
1930 - 2023
Our gentle, kind, and loving mom passed away peacefully on November 12, 2023, in her 94th year at Saint Brigid's Home in Ste. Foy, Quebec.
She is predeceased by her husband, Bill, her late brother and sisters: Douglas, Shirley and Joan, and beloved son, David (Jo-Ann, Garry). She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Paul, Kathy (Ken), Ian, Barbara (Paul) and Madeleine (Jean- Pierre). Mom cherished deeply each and every one of her grandchildren: James, Stephanie, Cassandra, Caroline, Lauren, Emily, Christian, Kathryn, Simon, Samuel, Gabriel, Rachel and Evelyn and her great-grandchildren: Grayle, Asher, Forrest and Ariane. She was also greatly loved by her many Bain, Boldt, and Holden nieces and nephews, her sister-in-law, Elaine, and her dear friends.
Mom was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She always knew that she wanted a large family and definitely got her wish. The adventure began when she and Dad sailed to England and settled in Birmingham where they had David and Paul. After a few years, they returned to Canada and lived in Ottawa where Kathy was born, McMasterville, where Ian was born, and then finally settled in Saint Hilaire, Quebec where Barbara and Madeleine completed the set and they raised their family of six.
Their home was always filled with the comings and goings of children and friends. Friends and extended family always felt welcome there. Home-cooked meals and delicious baking were her best creations: jams from Ste. Madeleine strawberries and raspberries, pies from Mont Saint Hilaire apples and Ontario cherries, not to mention her signature Christmas shortbreads, mince tarts and heirloom pecan sandies. Her food was always prepared with love, with the intention of nourishing and comforting body and soul.
Mom made sure our lives were very active with sports, camping, cross country skiing, hiking on our mountain every Sunday as a family and swimming at Otterburn Park swimming pool during family swim, to name but a few activities.
Mom had a great sense of humour and wit, often self-deprecating, which kept her family in stitches over the years. To this day, we can still draw from a great inventory of her infamous “play on words” which would bring a smile to our faces.
Mom was a teacher in all stages of her life. As well as having a great influence on her children’s education and interests, she was dedicated to her own personal growth. Whether it was French lessons, ballroom dancing, Bible study or even computer programming, she was dedicated to each endeavor wholeheartedly.
Mom loved to play the piano and was very humble about her accomplishments, succeeding in many exams at the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music. She used this talent to teach piano to support herself through university. Upon graduation from the English Language and Literature programme at the University of Toronto, she taught English literature at high school in Southern Ontario. She continued in the educational role later in life, teaching Sunday school at St Andrews United Church in Beloeil and later, giving of her time and skills to support youth with special needs at Richelieu Valley Regional High School. All who knew her benefited from her knowledge and love of the natural world, music, and literature. Her love of the Arts was evident in her dedicated attendance at the Centaur Theater in Montreal for many decades.
Mom's work with the United Church Women's groups was a testimony to her generous and caring spirit and she cherished many friendships from those days. For many years she continued to meet up with her friends in the Humito Club, a group of women from her elementary school days in Mimico, Ontario who remained very close.
In their retirement, Mom and Dad cherished their chance to travel together, exploring such places as California, Mallorca, Costa Rica, Ireland, Italy and attending performances of Wagner's Ring Cycle in Germany.
After caring for her husband Bill before his passing in 2014, she moved from her home in Mont St. Hilaire and settled in her lovely apartment at the Résidence Jazz in Ste. Foy, Quebec in August of 2015. She participated in many activities, such as Aquaforme and Eutonie classes, opera evenings and Jazz festivities, and adventured out on many group outings around her new city. Throughout this time, she often spent time with her daughter, Madeleine, her son-in-law, Jean-Pierre and their family at their home in St. Isidore, as well as with all those who would come to visit her from all over Canada.
In 2019 at the age of 89, Mom truly enjoyed her trip to Dundas, Ontario to see Barb and her family and then on to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia to visit her daughter, Kathy, her son-in-law, Ken and all their children and grandchildren. Even her son, Ian flew from Chicago to be there for the reunion.
With the decline of her physical health, she faced her new challenges with some healthy stubbornness, but mostly strength and positivity. With the support of her children and grandchildren, she adjusted to the moves to the Unité de réconfort at the Jazz and then to St. Brigid’s Home at the end of 2022. In her final days, she was surrounded by her loved ones and chose to slip away quietly in the early hours of Sunday morning to reunite with Bill, the love of her life. May she rest in peace.
We would like to thank St-Brigid's Home and the Unité de réconfort at Jazz Sainte-Foy for caring for our mother.
A memorial service will be held for Barbara Holden at Mont Bruno United Church in 2024. She and Bill Holden will be interred together beside her parents in Sherman Cemetery in Thamesville, Ontario. Details will be finalized at a later date.
If desired, a donation may be made in our mother’s memory to:
Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec
address : 2700, chemin des Quatre-Bourgeois, Québec, Québec.
phone : 418 656-4999
e-mail : info@fondation-iucpq.org
website : www.fondation-iucpq.org
9 messages reçus
Que mon soutien
réchauffe votre coeur
Holden Family
Sending you our thoughts…she will be missed…I have only the fondest memories of her and our visits in St Hilaire…hugs
Que mon soutien
réchauffe votre coeur
The Holden Family
Our sympathies to the Holden family. May your memories bring you comfort. Mrs. Holden was a special lady, and always made us feel at home. I have wonderful memories of music, baking and jam production. It was always lots of fun at the Holdens.
Hugs from all the Martins
Que mon soutien
réchauffe votre coeur
The Holden Family
My Deepest Sympathies on the loss of a wonderful woman and friend of many folks at Richelieu Valley United Church as well as Mount Bruno United Church. Barbara was always a very special kind person to me as I became a Licensed Lay Worship Leader. She always followed very keenly everything that was happening in the church world. Blessings and Peace to all of you!
Sincerely Norm
Holden family
Je suis profondément navré d'apprendre cette triste nouvelle et je partage avec vous tous votre deuil en me recueillant par la prière et ma dévotion envers Le Créateur et la vie qui continue de naître chaque jours, que la Paix soit avec vous, Amen
The Holden Family
What a beautiful tribute to such a kind and gentle woman. It brought back so many memories of both your Mom and Dad (your Mom teaching Sunday school, your Dad singing in the choir, and his role as an Elder, your Mom, with her beautiful smile, always helping wherever needed). My condolences to all of you. Sincerely, Lynda Erb
Madeleine Holden et famille
Mes sincères sympathies à toute la famille. Je partage votre tristesse et votre deuil suite à la perte de cette dame d’exception dont j’ai lu le parcours d’une vie accomplie de façon extraordinaire. Mes pensées vous accompagnent. Courage!
The Holden Family
May the Love in your hearts hold you during this difficult time. A Mothers Love is eternal.
Barbara Holden, Madeleine, The family
I have nice memories of your gentle mother, and I was so pleased and taking her back by this detailed biography. What a beautiful life she had, and what is strong and sheltering spirit. I’m so sorry for your loss, and I’m glad for your faith, for surely she watches over you all.
Que mon soutien
réchauffe votre coeur
Écrivez votre message de sympathie
