Barbara May Caiger

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara May Caiger (née King) on December 18, 2025, at Markham Stouffville Hospital. She died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 82.

Barbara (Barb) was born in Toronto but lived most of her childhood in Gananoque. She graduated from Gananoque Secondary School and completed her nursing training at Hôtel Dieu Hospital. Her life was an active one from a young age, and she enjoyed waterskiing, boating, skiing Whistler Blackcomb, and camping on the park islands in the St. Lawrence River.

Known for her big heart, Barb spent many years working as a registered nurse in community care. She especially cherished her 15 years as a parish nurse with Holy Trinity Anglican Church, where she focused on health education, advocacy, and empowerment. She also emphasized emotional and spiritual support through her “teddy bear ministry,” which ensured hospital patients always had a teddy bear to cuddle. Her desire to share her experience led to her publishing a book entitled Walking Alongside: The Essence of Parish Nursing.

Although she received some difficult diagnoses (including multiple sclerosis), she showed tremendous courage and determination in the face of those health challenges. She certainly did not let them stop her love of travel, with some of her favourite activities being sailing the Ontario waterways during the summer and exploring the U.S. by motorhome during the winter. She also cruised to Alaska and made sure to see as much outside of North America as possible, with trips to the Galápagos Islands, Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries. Travelling also suited Barb’s extroverted nature: she loved people and getting to know their stories, and she made friends wherever she went.

Later in her life, once Barb’s challenges kept her from travelling in the same way, it was her love of nature that buoyed her spirits. She found great joy in the creation of a native plant garden on her property that included about 300 plants. When her health made things difficult, her garden gave her happiness and peace.

Barb was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and daughter. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Chuck; her sons, Mark (Olivia) and Ian (Heather); her grandchildren, Spencer, Kathleen, Lexa, and Max; her brothers, Doug (Linda), Steve (Sandy), and Tom (Marion); and many nieces and nephews. Barb is predeceased by her parents, Jim and Betty.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on December 29, 2025, at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes (8088 Yonge St., Thornhill). The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on December 30, 2025, at Holy Trinity (140 Brooke St., Thornhill) with Linda Nicholls officiating. Burial will take place in Gananoque in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Toronto Humane Society.