Tribute

Obituary for Barbara Ann Howell 1939-2025

Barbara Ann Howell (née Murphie) died peacefully at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island on September 26, 2025, with family by her side.

Barbara was born in St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver on December 28, 1939. She graduated from Notre Dame Regional Secondary School in 1957. She was trained as an X-ray technician and worked in the same hospital in which she was born. She married the love of her life, Robert Nelson Howell, on April 22, 1961. Together they raised their two daughters, Ann Marie and Pauline. Barbara worked several part-time jobs while the girls were still at home and later worked for the Canada Pension Plan as a customer service representative, retiring at age 60. It is noteworthy that all her jobs involved direct service to the public as she enjoyed meeting and helping people.

After retirement, Barb and Rob bought property on Salt Spring Island where they built a lovely home together. Mum really loved daily visits from deer and hummingbirds.

Mum enjoyed attending mass at St. Paul’s Church in Fulford and later Our Lady of Grace Church in Ganges, as well as her years serving with the Catholic Women’s League. The family is grateful to the volunteers who drove Mum to church until her health seriously declined.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Nettie and Wilfred “Bud” Murphie, her sister Cecile Smith (Michael), and her grandson Jeffrey Abeysekera.

She is survived by Robert Howell, her husband of 64 years, her brother Robert Murphie (Carole), her daughters Ann Marie Davison (Mark) and Pauline Abeysekera (Brian), granddaughter Kathryn Abeysekera and great-granddaughter Kaleigh Abeysekera, and many nieces and cousins.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday October 8 at 1 pm at Our Lady of Grace Church, 135 Drake Rd., Salt Spring Island.