Obituary of Barbara Martin (nee Lee)

At the age of 87, Barbara passed away quietly surrounded by her family on May 23, 2023 at The Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario. She is the much loved wife of Robert Martin, mother of Margaret (Doug) and Geoffrey, grandmother to Ella, Zoe and Callum, aunt of many nieces and nephews, friend to many.  

Barbara grew up during the second world war in England and graduated from the Bede’s Grammar School for girls in Sunderland, England in 1955.  She was always interested in working with children, and joined Barnardo’s home for unwanted children, after taking an 18 month training in child development and the care of children.  She worked for Barnardo’s for a number of years expanding her experience in this speciality field in different situations. 

After her parents death she came to Canada, and accepted a position for the care of children with special needs in Montreal.  She rose from being a childcare worker to being the deputy head. She increased her knowledge in the field of work by taking university courses. The work was very challenging and rewarding, because she worked with professionals in child psychiatry and social work.  She worked for five years in Montreal, and then accepted a position for the Anglican Church in Canada’s north in isolated and semi isolated communities.  Barbara found the First Nations children delightful, co-operative, polite, sharing, and lovely. She enjoyed teaching art and sewing. In many cases these children came from communities with no running water, developed sewage systems, and poor economic circumstances. 

During her work in the north, she got married, and had two children, Margaret and Geoffrey. She left the north, when her husband accepted a position in Saskatchewan training Aboriginal administrators. The family eventually settled in Regina, for twelve years, and then moved to Ottawa in 1987.

Her daughter, Margaret obtained her M.A. in linguistics from Queen’s University in Kingston, and Geoff obtained a certificate in Records Management from Alquon College. Margaret got married, and had three children, adopted twin girls from China, and gave birth to one boy. The twins are now attending university, one in the U.S., and the other in Nova Scotia; and the boy will soon be in his final year of high school.         

The family would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the staff and residents of the Wellington Retirement community; also to the staff of E2 Civic hospital for their care and professionalism in responding to Barbara’s needs.