Hazel Jean Barber

Our dearly beloved Mother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Grandmother and exceptional Friend Hazel; bravely faced 5 challenging months. During this time, she referred to her loved ones and caregivers as “Angels.”

Predeceased by her parents, Jean Stella and Charlie (Constantine) Pipella – 1984 and her beloved husband, Gorden Chester Barber – 2020.

As a child, her family boated on Chestermere Lake. Her fathers nickname for her was "Little Petunia" and he named his boat the same.  As a teen, she worked at The Stampede Race Track as a bets teller. She also worked at the family business "Currie Taxi" in Marda Loop as a Taxi dispatcher.

Hazel was a dedicated single parent to her only child Deborah, then met her second husband Gorden in 1991. She had an immense love for children and helped care for family and neighbor’s children. She annually baked gingerbread men and houses with the family children. She enjoyed revisiting relatives pasts through her family photo albums with her sister, daughter, and nephews. She found inspiration to create her own art when visiting the Leighton Art Centre with her dear friends Martha & Jake. She worked two roles in the Beef Eater Restaurant, became a florist, master gardener and many years as a Seniors Therapeutic Aid at a Brenda Strafford funded program. 

Hazels passions were the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Civic Symphony, Opera, Theatre, Folk Festivals, Blues Festivals, nature & river walks with her daughter and grandson. She possessed a deep respect for all wildlife, especially humming birds who visited her annually, robins, and birds of prey.

Since 9/11, she and her husband flew by Cessna plane extensively throughout Western Canada and Western U.S.A., cruised Alaska, travelled Quebec, East Coast and through the Rocky Mountains by car and train. Together, they loved their adventure trips, including their membership trips with the AB Flying Farmers, she loved this community.

Deborah and Hazel took their last trip together to Churchill MB. to tour the polar bears. In her last years, her home and garden became her art gallery and sanctuary that she openly shared with loved ones and our Tabby cat Stella Jean.

Hazel is deeply missed by all her loved ones and those fortunate to have known her.

Hazel will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Deborah; sister Sheila; brother-in-law Andy; grandsons Kazden and Aaron; nieces Mckenzie, Alexis, Stephanie, Zoe, Sophia, Cassandra, Christina, and Linda; nephews Charlie, Theo, Andrew, Ryan and Christopher; Aunts Lucille and June; cousins Kimber Rae, Tara, Sloan, James, Shelley, Diane, Donelda, Dick, Monica, Sophie, Stacey, Michael, Luke, Dee, Mark, Shawn, Kurt, Denise, Steven, Leo, Ali, Rodney, Barry, Kirsten, Molly & Georgina and more. 

Hazel was predeceased by her Aunts whom she really loved spending time with Flo, Kay, Elaina, and Min; as well as her uncles Mike, Ed, Easy, and George.

With her strong value for service; she volunteered several years to Child Find AB, Stampede Seamstress, Refugee Family resource and many local children’s fundraisers. She donated to Canadian Vets, Salvation Army, The Justice Centre of Calgary, various Women’s Shelters, and The Mustard Seed.

She and her husband donated the majority of their estate to organizations like Heritage Park, Calgary Zoo, Calgary Foundation and Olds College of Agriculture & Technology during the lockdowns! Our True Southern AB Heros!

Please donate in her name to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology​​ https://www.oldscollege.ca/donors/donate-online.html

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