Barbara (Whalley) Pocknell

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Barbara Pocknell passed into the light in the early morning on March 28, 2018.

Barbara was born to William and Elizabeth Whalley in a mining community called Coal Creek, located about three miles south of Fernie, BC.  She had one older brother, George.  Mom lived most of her life either on her parents’ farm, or in later years, on her own farm just down the road from where she was raised, only moving to the Crowsnest Pass in the fall of 2014.

Barbara was only two when they moved to the Peace River Country to take up residence on the homestead located in Weberville, just northwest of the Town of Peace River.  It was a hard life, the depression arriving just as they were starting to clear land and get it ready for production.  Mom didn’t receive a lot of education, which she always regretted, but she knew her three Rs.  Over the years, she was well informed about world events and what was happening around her.

In 1955, after living in various cities and towns, Barbara moved back to the farm she grew up on along with her four children.  With the support of her parents, she made a very warm and loving home for all of us.

Barbara was a giving person, always in service to her family.  She sewed our clothes when we were young, loved to paint and was especially talented at cake decorating.  She made and decorated every one of her children’s wedding cakes.  We always had a huge garden, enough to last the winter, which was planted and taken care of by our grandparents and mom.  I still see Mom kneeling, picking wild strawberries to make fruit and jam.  It was a labor of love as anyone who has picked wild strawberries will know.  Once her children were grown, Barbara worked as a cook, as a housekeeper at the Peace River Hospital, and for Glass Fab Industries making fiberglass molds for trailers.  She was good at everything she turned her hand to.

Mom played the guitar, loved to dance, and taught her children how to do the all the old time dances.  Barbara especially loved the Spanish classical guitar, as well as a variety of other kinds of music.  In her younger days, she loved to walk and we often went along to enjoy the outdoors and just be with her.

I continue to see an image of Mom filled with immense joy and peace as she walks toward the light.  The last year of her life she was not able to walk and it is a great comfort to know she is free fro, a body that was tired and unable to function anymore.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, William and Elizabeth; her brother, George; and one grandchild, Gordon Scobie.  Barbara’s legacy carries on with her children, Elizabeth Kidd, Patricia (Gordon) Lundy, Martha Austin and Phillip (Beverly) Austin.  She has six surviving grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

It is with sadness that we must say goodbye to our Mom, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, but she will always live in our hearts and in our memories.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Seniors Drop-In Centre (10301 – 101 St., Peace River, AB T8S 1R8) on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 7:00pm.

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements.  (403) 562-8555

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