Obituary of Barbara Grace Klassen

“If it weren’t for me, none of you would be here”, she would say with a proud grin. Barb would look around the room to see if her joke landed for the 50th time. It always landed with the family.

On Monday May 30th at Kings Way Care Home in Quispamsis, Barbara “Bubba” Klassen crossed the Gondola Point Ferry into The Kingdom of Heaven. She walked, smiling, into the arms of her husband Bob Klassen, her twin brother Bob Stevens, and her parents Catherine and Henry Stevens.

God sent Bubba to Earth with one mission: to spread as much love as possible.

Ask any of her family the impact Bubba left, they’d sing in unison “she taught me how to love”. She loved deeply, happily, perfectly, and painfully. Her example is our guiding light, and it will burn for generations.

Barb was born in Montreal and has lived between Rothesay and Quispamsis for 50 years. She and Bob loved to sit on their porch singing hymns and watching the Gondola Point Ferries float to and fro. They cherished their church family at Waypoint and attended every event on the calendar.

As a secretary in downtown Montreal before marriage, Barb used written shorthand: a skill she’d use to take cryptic notes throughout her life while talking to her friends on the phone. This alien language wasn’t quite as prevailing as her skill for home decor. Barb took great pride in her home’s style, and would sew her own drapes, decorations, and clothes for family. She was on a first name basis with the staff at Winners.

As a proud homemaker and mother, she is survived by her two children Tracy Keleher (Richard) and Bruce Klassen (Mary); her three beloved grandchildren Jeffery, Bobby, and Jennifer Keleher; three great grandchildren Lincoln, Joey, Walker; and her sister Myffanway Jane of Healdsburg CA.

Honour Barb’s memory by loving and forgiving. Life is indeed too short to miss out on life’s greatest gifts. The family thanks the team at Kings Way Care Home for their care and professionalism.

Please join us for a celebration of Barb’s life at Waypoint Church at 7 Kingsway Dr. in Quispamsis on Monday, June 6th, at 10am. Visitation and refreshments will follow the service. Arrangements are under the care of Kennebecasis Funeral Home, 152 Pettingill Rd. Quispamsis (849-2119). Donations made in memory of Barb may be given to the Alzheimer Society of NB. Online condolences may be placed at: www.KennebecasisFH.com