Jocelyn Elisabeth Barber (nee Kirkham)

Surrounded by loved ones, Jocelyn died peacefully at home on August 21/2023 in her 96th year. She was predeceased by her loving husband, George “Mike” Barber, and her brother John and sister Kathleen Kirkham, and is survived by her sister Margaret Watson.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sons Jason, Hector (Dawn Gray) & Tarquin (Ann Borland), grandchildren (Sarah Kelleher, Wesley Barber, and Evelyn & Thomas Barber), great-grandchildren (Zoey & Kaden Kelleher) & stepchildren Michael Barber, Susan French and Linda Blacktop.

She was born in Bolton, England, on October 7th, 1927. Jocelyn attended Bolton School and received the Lady Leverhulme Award. She traveled to Europe as a teenager with a friend prior to attending university. She continued her studies with a full scholarship to St. Hilda’s College, Oxford University where she earned a B.A. and M.A. in classical history & literature. She began her career as an editor for Conde Nast magazine in London, England. She immigrated to Canada in 1952 with her two sisters, where they lived and worked in Vancouver & Toronto. Jocelyn was married in 1957 and raised her family in Pickering during the sixties. She received her B.Ed. at the University of Toronto in 1972 and taught Art at Anderson CVI in Whitby for 17 years until retirement. She was a visual artist who nurtured the spirit in many students over her years as a teacher and educational consultant. She was active in her community on matters of municipal planning and a member of “People or Planes” in the 70’s where the people championed over the federal government’s plans to build an airport in Pickering. Jocelyn was a lifetime member of GreenPeace and is the founder and only member of “WISC” Women in Small Cars!

In her retirement, she enjoyed time with her family and time at the cottage. Jocelyn enjoyed gardening, drawing trips to the zoo, photography, fashion and the visual arts as a painter, printmaker, and dabbler in carving. When it came to history and word games she was second to none. She continued to be engaged in the planning process in her community and shared her views with numerous ministers in both federal and provincial governments on issues she felt to be important.

She will be remembered as a woman who was never afraid to stand up for what she believed was right! Jocelyn had a keen eye for the aesthetic, she had an encouraging and enthusiastic impact on her many students, a good sense of humor, and she loved her family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 16th, from 1 pm – 3 pm at the Station Gallery, 1450 Henry St, Whitby. (905) 668-4185, https://www.stationgallery.ca/

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to one of three causes that Jocelyn supported would be appreciated: Young Street Mission https://www.ysm.ca/ , Covenant House Toronto https://covenanthousetoronto.ca/ , or The Salvation Army https://salvationarmy.ca/