Barr, Stella Louise passed away peacefully January 6, 2009 at Vulcan Community Health Centre at the age of 94 years.
Louise was born on the family farm at Majorville, Alberta on December 3, 1914, the second daughter of eight children, to Fred and Tillie Bertschy. She attended four schools through the years: Rocky Butte, East Majorville, Liberty and finally Robertson school which opened in 1928. Louise would go to the Robertson School early as she was the janitor and responsible for starting the wood stove to warm the school house. She had many responsibilities growing up as big sister to her many younger siblings. Louise was her Dad’s “help” at a very young age and spent most of her time outside doing chores. She continued to enjoyed outside work all her life. Louise was well schooled on farm life when she married Tom Barr of Mossleigh in 1937 and together they had three sons. She continued helping with the farm work and chores, milking cows, feeding pigs and raising turkeys and chickens.
Louise also enjoyed cooking, gardening and crocheting and became an avid curler when the curling rink was built in Mossleigh in 1948. Living and working through the “Dirty 30s” made her appreciate the simple things in life and family and friends were always her main concern. After Tom passed away and with Bob and Allen married, she moved back to Arrowwood in 1973. Louise continued to raise a big garden and still helped out with the farm whenever needed. Nana enjoyed keeping the grandchildren and running them to hockey and ball games as well as babysitting for lots of families. Cookies were never in short supply at Nana’s house. She also worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Arrowwood as their janitor for numerous years. Louise moved into the Peter Dawson Lodge in the fall of 2003 and resided there until her moved to Vulcan Community Health Centre Long Term Care in April of 2006. Louise knew how to work and always said “hard work never hurt anybody”. These were words she lived by. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Loving mother of son Bob (Bev) of Pincher Creek and their son Tom and his children Lacee and Brittney, daughter-in-law Chriss Barr of Arrowwood and her son Wade (Tracy) and their children Jayde, Ryder and Regan, great grandsons Levi and Tyler, four sisters Violet Armstrong, Bernice Leslie, Marie (Verlyn) Culp, Irene (Ralph) Oberholtzer, a brother Fred Jr (Nancy) Bertschy and numerous nieces and nephews.
Louise was predeceased by her husband Tom in 1967, son Richard 1942, son Allen 2004, grandson James 1998, brother Bob Bertschy, sister Meta Robinson and her parents Fred and Tillie Bertschy.
Funeral service Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at Vulcan United Church with Rev. Lee Spice officiating.
Interment Vulcan Cemetery.
Casket bearers Wade Barr, Tom Barr, Randy Bertschy, Lou Bertschy, Charles Oberholtzer and Wayne Robinson.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Louise’s memory can be made to Vulcan Community Health Centre Long Term Care, Box 299, Vulcan, T0L 2B0.
The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Vulcan Community Health Centre Long Term Care.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.