Date of Birth: December 30, 1928
Date of Death: November 27, 2016
Isabel Janet Margaret (Robertson) Barnsley of Abernethy, Sask., age 87, after a brief illness.
Remembered with profound gratitude by daughters, Catherine (Rick McCorrister), Nancy (Bill) Garratt and Janet (Alf) Cleggett; grandchildren, Megan and John Garratt and Mary and Josh Cleggett. Survived by many family and friends in Canada, USA and the UK, and Rick’s sons and their families in Winnipeg.
Predeceased by her husband, Bert (1983); brother, Alasdair Robertson (1994); and sister, Flora Froehlich (2000).
Born on Dec. 30, 1928 to Charlie and Rhoda (Russell) Robertson on Struan Farm, near Bradwell. As a child, she developed life-long interests including cross-country skiing, gardening, music, horseback riding, all things Scottish, and most of all, people.
Isabel attended Saskatoon Normal School and the University of Saskatchewan, receiving her Standard A Teaching Certificate from the Department of Education. She taught Grades 1-10 in one-room schools at Unity School (south of Clavet) and Minnehaha (north east of the Battlefords). Following a year teaching at Melfort, she moved to Abernethy in 1951. An avid letter writer, Isabel maintained contact with students and colleagues throughout her life.
While teaching at Abernethy, she caught the eye of a handsome farmer and married H.N. (Bert) Barnsley of Park Farm, Gillespie, in 1953. They loved farming, raising purebred Shorthorn cattle and growing cereal crops.
Isabel was devoted to her family, friends, students, and community including: Abernethy United Church, Abernethy Agricultural Society, 4-H, CGIT, IODE, Abernethy Museum, Abernethy Seniors and Abernethy Cemetery Association. She taught many children to ride horseback and skate. Isabel believed that community service is the rent one pays for time on Earth. In 1992, her volunteerism was recognized by the Advisory Council of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.
She travelled nearly 20 times to England and Scotland. Isabel had the gift of being genuinely interested in every person she met. She met all of life’s challenges with true grit, unshakable faith, courageous optimism and sharp wit. This was never more evident than following her diagnosis of West Nile Neurological Syndrome in 2007. Following almost complete paralysis, Isabel learned to walk, speak, and breathe on her own again. Four years of therapy while living at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre (WRC) enabled her to move “back home” to Balcarres Integrated Care Centre. At the BICC, she resumed her active community life through phone calls, emails, entertaining visitors, community outings and advising on Abernethy activities. Isabel walked daily, devised her own therapy program and spent hours enjoying the garden courtyard.
Isabel’s family is deeply grateful to the staff of WRC and the BICC for their wonderful care.
Isabel’s entire life was about service to her family and communities. Her zest for life, sense of joy and adventure, abundant energy and curiosity, fierce determination and remarkable resilience are an inspiration to all. Her acceptance speech upon receiving an Honorary Membership in the Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions in 2006 in recognition for her service to her community and her province concluded with these words by George Bernard Shaw:
I am of the opinion
that my life belongs
to the whole community,
and as long as I live
it is my privilege to do for
it whatever I can.
I want to be thoroughly
used up when I die,
for the harder I work,
the more I live.
I rejoice in life for its
own sake.
Life is no brief candle to me.
It is sort of a splendid torch
which I’ve got hold of
for the moment,
and I want to make it burn
as brightly as possible
before handing it
on to future generations.
Isabel leaves us an amazing legacy of what it means to be family member, friend, neighbour, teacher and citizen. Our grief at her passing is made easier by knowing the breadth of her full life.
Public Celebration of Life on Friday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. at Knox United Church, Abernethy and Abernethy Seniors Centre (wheelchair accessible). Rev. Rick McCorrister officiating. Wear your tartan or plaid! Private family interment in the Barnsley family plot in Abernethy.
Memorial donations to: Knox United Church, Abernethy; Abernethy Seniors; or BICC Donations-Recreation Program.
Arrangements in care of Tubman Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.tubmanfh.com
