Barbara May Brooks

October 29, 1941 – January 21, 2019

Barbara BROOKS (nee Onischuk) passed away in Burnaby at the age of 77, following a brief illness. Barb was born in Edmonton, AB and lived in Edmonton and St. Albert as a child. She married Del Brooks in 1961 and they had 4 children in Edmonton before moving to Burnaby in 1972. Barb was an amazing cook and baker, and on her cinnamon bun baking days every child on the street would find an excuse to be at the Brooks house. Her yearly gingerbread houses and homemade fudge were also legendary. Nobody ever went hungry at Barb’s house. Barb enjoyed working with the Girl Guides as a District Commissioner. She ran frozen yogurt stores in White Rock and Lougheed Mall before helping her son David grow his business, BriteBlinds, where she worked until August of 2018. Barb was also famous for her home maintenance and gardening, as well as for the ‘Bubbamobile’, her iconic 1982 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser with hand-painted tailgate, which she proudly drove until late 2018.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents Dr. Nestor and Nell Onischuk. She is survived by Del, her husband of 57 years, and their children Angela Brooks-Wilson (Gary), Wendy Bachman (Ken), David Brooks (Candice) and Derek Brooks (Lisa), as well as her 9 grandchildren: Andrew, Tyler, Katie, Patrick, Marcus, Jamie, Alyssa, Amy and Carter (in whose wonderful artistic efforts the Bubbamobile features prominently), and her first great-grandchild, Alison. She is also survived by sisters Eleanor Deelman (John) and Carol Onischuk.

Barb was a determined and fearless wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and will be missed by many. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Barb’s name to the BC Cancer Foundation.