Barbara Witt Obituary

WITT, Barbara (nee Williams)
August 4, 1932 - January 18, 2025

Our English Rose has departed, passing peacefully in her sleep at The Priory in Colwood.
Predeceased by: Parents, Leslie Williams and Connie Wylie; son Bradley (Dara). Left to mourn: Loving Children; Andy, Karin, Greg (Jill), Copie (Darlene). Her Cherished Grandchildren: Jared (Jeff), Claire, Luke, Jake, and Hayden. Adored Brothers: Copie (Steph), Phil (Elaine), John (Irene) and Norman (Nicky). Beloved Nieces and Nephews: Chris, Mark, Jenny, Ben, Alex, Kate, Hannah, Connie and Stuart; Sister-in-law Joy Owens, Cousin Peter Haynes.
Mum started life in Meols, Merseyside (Cheshire), England where she had a very happy pre-war life in a large active family up until World War II interrupted her happy existence. First, her uncle Ronald died in Belgium protecting the British retreat to Dunkirk, then her father, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Williams died in Normandy two months after the D-Day landings, two days before her 13th Birthday. Both buried in hero's graves. A few months later her mother gave birth to her brother Copland and mum always said, "he embodies the best of her dad". Along with her mother, Barb spent the war years living with her Gran-Williams and two aunts Babe and Edna. Five heroic women living together under the bombings and deprivations.
Mum was introduced to music at a very young age by a very musical Adams family. Her Anglican Minister Granddad Adams engaged her at a very early age to sing in the church choir and perform as a skilled soloist and choir member. Thus began her lifelong passion for singing and theatre.
Mum was an active and athletic teenager competing in field hockey, tennis, and excelling in swimming. She recounted happy memories of swimming in the outdoor seawater swimming pool located on the Irish Sea in Hoylake (brrr). Ever the social butterfly, she loved the club dances and her many great friends.
After the war, Barb's mum remarried and she eventually gained three more brothers. Phil and John whom she helped raise, until she married Roland Witt and emigrated to Canada in 1954. She always said, "Mum would hand me the baby and then go back to work in the pub". The boys certainly benefited from that time. They adored their big sister, and she them. Her youngest brother Norman, born after she emigrated, himself emigrated to Canada to Barb's delight.
In Canada, five children arrived over eight years in Ontario. After two years in Calgary, in 1967 she made the decision to courageously move west on her own with the kids. This led to our arrival in beautiful Victoria BC in 1968. She said, "It reminded me the most of home" and here she built her independence and happy home. This move carried on the legacy in our family of courageous and strong women.
In Victoria she established a happy and exciting new beginning for herself and her children. Her home in Colwood became the 'hangout' for many of the neighbourhood kids. Even as she financially struggled caring for her own, she never turned a kid in need away and sheltered many over the years. To this day, she is beloved by those now grown friends and they are many. With her razor-sharp wit, sarcastic sense of humour and as purveyor of sage advice our friends could be found hanging out with Barb even if we weren't home. She would say, "if they're here, they're safe". She curated a spectacular childhood for us with many trips to local beaches, lakes, blackberry patches, camping, sporting events, drive-in movies, picnics, barbecues, sleepovers, etc. She kept us busy in sports and made sure we made it to practise and games all over the city saying, "It was better to wear them out in sports to keep them out of trouble" (oops, sorry mum). She never missed a game or event, an ever present, active, vocal fan.
Her first two great friends were Judy Ryan (Grannie Ryan) who introduced her to selling Avon products and her loving friend Jean Sheridan, who along with her family brought football into our life. Mum could be relied upon to participate in fund raising and for years ran the Saanich Hornets Football Club bingo. These two strong female friendships helped her get grounded in Victoria and started her building a community of women friends who she teamed up with positively over the years for events, support, fun and antics. She loved you all.
Once her kids were settled at school, Mum went back to school, leading to a long career with the Provincial Ministry of Finance, Property Tax division where she ended her career as a manager. Her colleagues and staff loved her, and lifelong friendships were made especially with Debbie Kay, her 'little sister' and her stalwart dear friend Maggie Dean. She and her great friends eventually formed a group calling themselves 'The Old Bags Club', gathering regularly post-retirement until recently. She loved her Old Bags.
Her love of music and singing lead her to join the Victoria Operatic Society, where she anchored the chorus. At the start of this journey in the 1984 production of Sound of Music, she sang Climb Every Mountain as she was able to reach high C, which she did exquisitely. She was also an active member in the Broadway Pops Choir. In both groups she helped with sets, sewed costumes and sang in Christmas Choirs. Singing in the choir took her back to her fond early years at her grandfather's church choir, albeit with a more modern repertoire.
She was an avid gardener creating many spectacular gardens over the years. She loved flowers and in particular roses. Her final garden will keep going in the same place she started it in 1968, lovingly tended by grandson Jared (Jeff), her partner in gardening and caregiver for the last four years.
There have been decades of family visits from England. Her beloved cousin Peter visited her in Calgary in 1966, leading to the decision to move to Victoria. Brother Norman came the summer of 1974 post high school. Both subsequently emigrated to Canada. This began a steady parade of cross Atlantic visits. It was a right of passage for nieces and nephews to come to Canada for a summer with Auntie Barbs and family. Culminating with a Victoria New Year's Millenium full family reunion. Her final English family visit was from her brother Copie (with her nephew Mark) just a few weeks ago to say goodbye, which meant so much to her.
We are so lucky that she was our Mum. Mum's warmth, sincerity, humour, loyalty, loving council and sailors' tongue resulted in many lifelong friendships. She was a very special influence and loved by all. She will be sadly missed by her grateful family and friends.
We would like to thank the staff at the Vic General Hospital, Island Health Home Care Services, BC Ambulance Service, Drs. Darcel, Hsu and Lane(s), and in particular the staff at The Priory care home who did a wonderful job looking after her in her final months and hours. Thank you to her friend Kim for assisting mum at home, ensuring that Barb and Maggie saw each other regularly.

A Celebration of Life will occur on Saturday March 15 at 2:00 PM, at First Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens 4725 Falaise Drive. Flowers are welcome at the service, Mum loved flowers, or a donation may be made to your charity of choice. Please RSVP attendance to [email protected].