Barbara Ann Schneider

Barbara Ann Schneider, beloved wife, mother, sister, colleague, and friend, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2025, at Agape Hospice in Calgary, Alberta. Loved and admired by all who had the good fortune to know her, Barbara leaves an indelible mark on the lives of those she touched.

Barbara was most deeply treasured by her husband, Daryl, and her two sons, David and Dan, for whom she was the rock of support, understanding, and advocacy through thick and thin. There will be rivers of tears from her family, colleagues, and students, but we can all take comfort from the strength, grace, and dignity of her passing. She leaves the world a much better place than she found it. She grew up in the company of and is survived by her brothers, Peter, and Michael Schneider.

Barbara was born on June 1, 1948, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Miriam and Hans Schneider, both Holocaust survivors who had been sent as children to Edinburgh to escape the persecution of Jews in Germany and Austria. The eldest of three children, Barbara spent her early years in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before the family immigrated to Madison, Wisconsin, when she was eleven years old.

Barbara’s life was shaped by her deep curiosity, remarkable intellect, and unwavering compassion. She earned a degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin before pursuing her passion for music, earning a violin performance diploma from the University of Toronto. Her professional career as a violinist brought her to Calgary, where she played in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for fifteen years.

A lifelong learner and gifted teacher, Barbara completed an MA and PhD in Communication Studies at the University of Calgary. She joined the university’s Department of Communication, Media, and Film as a faculty member, becoming Department Head from 2013 to 2018. Her steadfast and gentle guidance inspired generations of students, many of whom credit her mentorship with their academic and professional success. Her legacy continues through the Barbara Schneider Student Writing Awards, an endowment she established to recognize excellence in student writing.

Barbara’s academic work reflected her profound commitment to social justice, particularly in advocating for better understanding of mental illness, homelessness, and social exclusion. Her publications remain in use in classrooms today, continuing to foster empathy and understanding among students and readers alike.

Alongside her professional accomplishments, Barbara was a vibrant creative force. She was an accomplished weaver, winning prizes at the Calgary Stampede for her rugs and pillows and served as President of the Heritage Weavers and Spinners Guild of Calgary. Music remained a central part of her life, singing with the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, the Bach Choir, and other choirs throughout her life.

Amongst Barbara’s many additional interests, hiking and alpine flowers were her favorite things. In her hiking travels, she hiked thousands of kilometers throughout Canada, Germany, Scotland, England, and Spain. On every hike, she would pause to enjoy the amazing vistas and the fields of flowers.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made on behalf of Barbara to a charity of your choice. Barbara was particularly passionate about finding ways to better support people experiencing homelessness and mental illness.

Her friends and family extend their thanks the staff at the Foothills Hospital and Agape Hospice who spared no effort to make her time in care as peaceful and comfortable as possible.

She will be missed.

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