Barbara Jean Spearns

Spearns (Crouse), Barbara Jean - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara Spearns, cherished wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend at daybreak on November 13, 2011. Barb was the beloved youngest daughter of Arthur and Sylvia (Walters) Crouse of Halifax and was born in Brockville, Ontario in 1961. She lived in several places before the family moved to Halifax in 1967 and she graduated from J. L. Ilsley High School. Her career in the insurance industry spanned over 30 years, starting at Johnson Inc. and continuing at Intact Insurance for the past 21 years. At the age of five Barb discovered her life’s passion, which was horses. At the age of 15 she began dating the love of her life, Stephen, and they were married ten years later in 1987. On her fifth wedding anniversary Stephen gave her a gift of riding lessons. Under her first trainer, Delores Knox, she became a horsewoman, and Stephen purchased her first mount, Chester. In 1998 she gave birth to her son Clayton and for the past 13 years they have been constant companions through excursions to the various barns where her horses were boarded and other activities, including the annual week at Family Camp at Lutheran Camp Mush-A-Mush, and frequent visits to her mom and dad’s cottage in Newburne. Barb is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 24 years of marriage and her beloved son Clayton. Without the commitment of Stephen and Clayton, she would not have seen the dream of her horses coming home to their new property in Ketch Harbour in June of this year. Barb was predeceased by her maternal and paternal grandparents, and by her father-in-law, Robert Thomas (Bob) Spearns. She is also survived by her parents; mother-in-law Joan Spearns; sisters Joanne Paulsen (Andy), Cambridge, Ontario and Cathy Crouse (Jim), Mill Cove; brothers Michael Crouse (Heather), Halifax and Tom Crouse (Jennifer), Halifax; sister-in-law Sylvia Swinamer (Kirk), Chester; brother-in-law Drew Spearns (Halifax), as well as her nieces and nephews and their children. She enjoyed especially close relationships with her niece, Allison, who shares her love of horses and her nephew Ryan, who is a close friend of Clayton’s. She loved all animals and gave shelter and care to many pets including several bunnies; cat companions Sampson, Delilah and Shadow; her German Sheppard, Shelby; and her horses Chester, Cricket and Zack. She pursued her artistic and creative talents through tole painting and beading, and her family and friends will treasure the gifts we received made by her hands. She was a loyal friend who maintained lasting relationships with childhood friends from Family Camp as well as former co-workers from Johnson Inc.; and she was immensely grateful to her close friend Cindy MacDonald and the many co-workers at Intact who provided meals, flowers, gift certificates and special treats to sustain her family over the past four months. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her and whose lives she touched. Cremation has taken place under the direction of J. A. Snow Funeral Home and a visitation will be held at 339 Lacewood Drive from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 17. A Celebration of Life will take place at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 2096 Windsor Street, Halifax, on Friday, November 18 at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow in the church hall. Burial will be at a later date. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of QEII Health Sciences Centre in the Infirmary and the Centennial buildings and especially to those in the Palliative Care Unit. Donations in Barbara’s name can be sent to the Lutheran Camp Mush-A-Mush, Breast Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes Association, or your local SPCA. Online condolences may be sent to www.jasnowfuneralhome.com