Obituary of KVERN – Barbara Joan

January 17, 1934 – June 2, 2010 Born January 17, 1934 in Lethbridge, Alberta. After 76 strong years, our mother made the courageous decision to opt out of dialysis. She passed away at the Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Collen Kvern; her parents, Violet and Gordon Lowe; and older sister, Beryl Coleman. She is survived by daughters, Kelly Gray, Lee Kvern, Jody Kvern, Bobbie Charron, and Dani Kvern; sons-in-law, Ian Gray, Paul Rasporich, Marc Charron, Wes Obrigewitsch, and Chris Sutton; grandchildren, Derek, Calvin and Erin Gray, Kai and Seth Rasporich, Kyle, Nicole and Colin Charron, Arden and Teva Kvern, and Crew Sutton; great grandchildren, Savannah Gray and Owen Charron Gabriel; and younger sister, Linda Armstrong. Married to an RCMP officer, our mother moved throughout Alberta and finally settled in Calgary where she and our father ran Kvern Industrial Security. But asked the question: What did you want most in your life? Our mother answered, “I wanted children, as many as I could have.” And children she had: five devoted daughters, eleven terrific grandchildren, and recently, two remarkable great grandchildren – all of whom were an enormous source of love, laughter, and life-giving comfort to her. The most our mother wanted was exactly what she had. Not only a mother to us, she was also a surrogate mother to many of our friends and cousins. Her life-size family and wide circle of long-standing friends will miss her the most. The most we could ever want, we had in Barbara Joan Kvern. We carry her in our hearts and minds. A Celebration of Barbara’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. Our gratitude to 3 West (Yellow Pod) at the Fanning Centre, the dialysis unit and Foothills Hospital for the kind, loving care they gave our mother in these difficult years. In living memory of Barbara Kvern, a tree will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park, Cochrane by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.