Barbara Mary (Ricketts) Brown

April 25, 1928 - January 17, 2026

Following a brief hospitalization, Barbara passed away in peace, surrounded by family and friends. Predeceased by her husband Jim (2003), and her sister and best friend, Hilda Alexander (2017), she leaves a grieving family and community.

Barbara had four sons, Glenn, Chris (Debbie), Eric (Cheryl), and Michael (Headdy); and seven grandchildren, Kristen (Jason), Mark (Tiffani), Nicholas (Julia), Caitlin, and Andrea (Damien), Elisa and Michelle; and five great-grandchildren: Austin, Alison, Robin, Lucy and Tage.

Funeral services will be at St Barnabas Church at 1pm on Monday Jan 26, with reception to follow.

Early in her life, Barbara Ricketts moved to St Lambert, and never left. There she met and married her sweetheart Jim Brown and built a life that encompassed a loving 53-year marriage, four rambunctious boys, a series of dogs (with a special mention of her Yorkie soulmate Minnie) and a tireless enthusiasm for the Habs.

And her church! Barbara was a fixture in the halls of St Barnabas. She sang in the choir for over 75 years, and served as Choir Guild President for many of those years. She volunteered for countless committees. Her Rummage Sale counter was legendary.

After Jim sold Brown’s Pharmacy, the couple enjoyed a very active co-retirement, travelling Canada as square dancers, enjoying trailer life, visiting countries around the globe, and running a busy ceramics business. Their ceramics, especially the Christmas trees and ornaments, are still appreciated in family households from St. Lambert to California: Barbara’s kids, grandkids and great-grandkids are now spread across the continent. The Brown clan is thriving in NDG, Markham, Brooklin, Oshawa, Vancouver, Coquitlam and Pasadena.

Above all, Barbara (aka Mum/Gram/Grammy/Gramma) was a strong woman of discipline and integrity. Her decline was sudden, and the end was calm and serene, with her hands held by family, surrounded by love and support.

A reception will follow the funeral. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Anglican Church’s “Alongside Hope” fund, www.alongsidehope.org, (formerly the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund).