Donna Mae Barber

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Donna Barber of Gladstone, Manitoba, age 79, at Brandon Regional Health Centre on January 15, 2024.

Donna was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Mary Stratton, her husband, Barrie Barber, sister Norma Hanna, brother Bobble Stratton, in-laws Roy, Harold (Joyce), Doug, and Marion, and special friend, Keith Kerr. Left to mourn her passing are Norma's children; Grant (Joann) Calvert, Cheryl (Alan) Manns, Jim (Adena) Hanna, Darren Calvert, and Teresa (Brian) Moore; siblings-in-law Jim Hanna, Donnie Barber, Dallas (Bev) Barber, and Bev Barber; and numerous other family members and friends.

Donna was raised in MacGregor, Manitoba where she attended school. After receiving her schooling, she started working in MacGregor as a telephone operator. She was the chief operator in 1968 when it changed to dial-up. Other jobs she worked were at Marr Fashions and MacGregor Lo-Cost.

In 1965, she married Barrie Barber, and they lived in MacGregor until they moved to Gladstone in 1976. There they had purchased a grocery store, and they ran Barber's Solo Store. In 1979, they lost the building and their living quarters to a devastating fire, but decided to rebuild. They continued the business until 1990. Barrie passed away that year, and Donna returned to Manitoba Telephone System as an operator out of Portage la Prairie this time. She ended up taking a business course in Brandon to help her become familiar with computers. Unfortunately, Donna was involved in a car accident in 1994 which brought her working career to an abrupt end.

At a singles' dance in 1995, she met Keith Kerr, a farmer from Ninette who brought a lot of fun and happiness to her life for 17 years until he passed in 2012. They enjoyed many a road trip to different fairs in the province to watch horse races, and she was a huge supporter of the kids for several years, as she watched them compete in the 4-H Beef Achievement Day at the Carberry Fair.

Donna welcomed her nieces and nephews for many weekend and summer visits. As the years went on, it became their children asking for little vacations at Auntie Donna's. Countless stories and adventures have been shared.

She continued living in Gladstone after selling her house in 2015, and moved into one of the suites at Legion 110. She loved her flowers, birds (especially hummingbirds) and watching many hours of both curling, baseball, and Hallmark movies. She had numerous fun stories of her trips traveling to various curling events with Barrie, and in her later years, she enjoyed following the line scores of family members' curling games through CurlingZone and YouTube. These new technologies resulted in many SOS phone calls; Cheryl's son, Darcy, made emergency trips to Gladstone on more than one occasion to write detailed step-by-step instructions for her to follow for either her computer, phone, or her new "smart" tv.

Donna worked hard, played hard, and loved hard. She would not have changed one thing. She lived life on her own terms and spoke her mind. However, if she was in your corner, you felt her support.

As per her wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be a graveside service at a later date. If family or friends so desire, memorial donations may be made in Donna's memory to a charity of their choice. 

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