OBITUARY
Katherine Patricia Mary BARBER
September 8, 1959 – April 24, 2021
Katherine Barber, aka Canada’s Word Lady, died on 24 April at Bridgepoint Healthcare Centre in Toronto. It was a beautiful spring day with flowers beginning to bloom - as appropriate for such an avid gardener. Katherine was diagnosed with a particularly virulent and rapid form of brain cancer that took her life a mere two weeks after its diagnosis. A woman of prodigious intellect and achievement, she was a true Renaissance woman, deeply knowledgeable and in love with the English language, ballet, flowers, baking, Gilbert & Sullivan, international travel, choral church music, and most of all, her cats. She was fluent in French and German and conversant in Italian. Her greatest achievement was being the inspiration and founding editor of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary - the first dictionary of its kind and a lasting contribution to the development of Canadian culture. She also wrote a couple of best-selling books on aspects of the English language and was well-known for her witty radio spots, lectures, and blogs about the history of the English language and the many unique aspects of Canadian English. Katherine loved ballet and danced with expression and enthusiasm in ballet classes all her adult life. Through this she made many lifelong friends. Subsequently, she founded Tours en l’Air, a company that provided guided tours for balletomanes to see performances by the world’s leading ballet companies in Europe and North America. Through her excellent networking she was able to arrange backstage visits with the dancers as well as tours to local museums and cultural sites. She also loved to sing and was a dedicated Alto in the St. Thomas’s Anglican choir. She cherished the opportunity to sing with her choir in Toronto as well as a visiting choir in Westminster Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral, and Canterbury Cathedral. Born in England, she moved to Canada at age eight and grew up in Winnipeg. Upon graduation from the University of Winnipeg she taught English for a year in Rouen, France then subsequently moved to Ottawa and Toronto to pursue her career in lexicography. She was predeceased by her father, Gordon, and mother, Patricia. Left to mourn are her sister, Martha (Bob), brothers Josh (Cheryl) and Peter (Sherry), nephews Daniel (Lindsay), Michael (Bronte), Stephen, Gabriel and Tristan (Carly), niece Beth (Jerren), and great-niece Molly. She was surrounded by a multitude of devoted friends. We cannot thank enough the many kindnesses showed to Katherine by her many friends and neighbours. Especial thanks, to her dear friends Katherine Karbownik and Peng Chiang for their endless support during the difficult last weeks, and to the medical teams at Mount Sinai Hospital and Bridgepoint Health Care. No Visitation will be possible in present circumstances but, pandemic permitting, the family hope to hold a Memorial Service on 8 September. Funeral service to be held at St. Thomas’s Anglican Church on 4 May at 11.00 am. In person attendance will be limited to immediate family members but the service will be livestreamed via FuneraWeb at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/28746 an on-line memorial site is at Trull Funeral Home’s website. Burial to take place at a later date in Manitoba amidst her family forebears. Donations in her memory may be made to the National Ballet of Canada, St. Thomas’s Anglican Church in Toronto, or the Canadian Cancer Society.
Services
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Memorial Service
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Memories
Katherine Patricia Mary BARBER
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYTerry Gillis
May 13, 2021
I took Katherine's Best of Ballet course at Carleton University a few years ago. The course was wonderful, full of information and Katherine's love for ballet stood out. My favourite memory is our group of seniors standing up and waving our arms like the swans in Swan Lake. What a sight! A memory I think of when I need a good chuckle.
Roger Clarke
May 11, 2021
My wife and sister in law and I had great time several years ago when we went on one of Katherine's ballet tours. Subsequently, we enjoyed her Wordlady emails which were both arcane and educational, and certainly never dull. She was never dull, either. Her death was huge surprise.
Geoff Forguson
May 4, 2021
Katherine made a difference to Canadian culture and will be remembered forever for her work on the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. I was proud to have worked with Katherine at Oxford Canada, and her commitment to this important project was unwavering. She will be missed.
Pauline Chan-Thimas
May 4, 2021
My deepest condolences to the family of Katherine Barber. We have all lost such a gift to Canada’s arts community. It was wonderful to hear such beautiful live music at the funeral. She would have loved that. My last memory of Katherine was joking back and forth with her about the benefits of taking online ballet classes, even if you couldn’t understand the language of the instructor - provided he was sufficiently beautiful of foot and of face! She brought joy and laughter to so many of us. I will forever regret not going overseas on one of her fabulous Tours en L’air trips. I will miss you deeply my friend.
Paula McKay
May 4, 2021
Katherine will be remembered for living her life to the fullest and sharing it with everyone.
Our deepest condolences to the family.
Paula McKay and family
Leah LeDrew
May 4, 2021
I will miss your words.
Carol Lang
May 3, 2021
RIP dear Katherine Barber . I personally watched your wonderful ballet trips grow on my three wonderful trips to Europe with you. Because of you, you and I were able to sneak off to Notre Dame Cathedral on Easter morning in Paris and got front row standing places as we celebrated Easter Mass, Bishop of Paris, Presiding.
Because of you, I got to watch in person, the Vienna Boys choir in Vienna.
Because of you, I visited places I may otherwise not visited. The beautiful city of Bruges, the Little Mermaid statue in Denmark, "the Castle" in Prague (which I'm sure Kafka had in mind when writing the novel of the same name.
Because of you, the St.Thomas's. Evensong Choir was made all the more beautiful.
I'm shocked, saddened and hurt by your passing.
My deepest sympathies to your family and other friends.
Too soon, too young.
I will miss you very, very much. Love Carol.
David Rettie
May 3, 2021
I was a student of Katherine's in the translation program at the University of Ottawa in the early 90s. Her wisdom, wit, and wordsmithery were a joy and inspiration to so many students, and later to others through her media contributions, not to mention her beloved dictionary. I was truly saddened to learn of her most untimely death. Ave atque vale. David Rettie.
Helen Bagshaw
May 3, 2021
I had the great pleasure of working with Katherine on her "Word Lady" column on Metro Morning in the 1990s. She had a great sense of humour and a true love of all the Canadianisms that she had tracked through her work on the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. She contributed so much through her volunteer activities as well: The National Ballet of Canada and choral singing. She had so many talents including fine needlework and owned the moniker "Lady" in so many ways. It is a sad loss to the country. My condolences to her loved ones.
Chuck Baker
May 2, 2021
It is with great sadness that I learnt of Katherine’s untimely passing. I grew to know her through her CBC ‘Word Lady’ talks and a history of English course she gave at Glendon Campus of York U in Toronto. More recently I greatly enjoyed reading her blog on derivations of English words and expressions; the last posting arriving as recently as March 4/21.
Katherine possessed all the wonderful characteristics that people have written about in this space. And so many peoples’ lives were enriched by her. Thank you Katherine for a life well lived.
My condolences to her family and close friends.
Jody Gomber
May 1, 2021
It breaks my heart that Katherine is gone from us. She was such a vibrant presence, from her entertaining and informative ballet lectures, to her delightful Wordlady blog, her incredibly well organized Tours-en-l'air ballet trips, and all the ballet newsletters she sent to be sure we didn't miss anything great. I have many memories of Katherine, but my favourite is the time she showed up wearing a tutu and tights to the Learning in Retirement class she gave at Carleton , and said, "You shoulda seen the looks I got on the bus!"
Isabella Cairess Favaro
May 1, 2021
I’m so sorry to hear about Katherines passing. Too young, too soon, she will be so missed. I got to know about Katherine through her Tours en Lair newsletter. She was able to bring the dance world together during Covid by linking us to dance performances from around the world. What a gift. With sympathy and a grateful heart, Isabella
Julia Armstrong
May 1, 2021
I sang in the St. Thomas's Church Evensong Choir with Katherine for many years. Going back through my photos, I found this lovely one of her, taken before Choral Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, in the summer of 2010. That day, she had visited the historic home of the 18th-century lexicographer Dr. Samuel Johnson, and she showed me her souvenir featuring his cat Hodge. Here are more photos of Katherine taken during choir tours (2005, 2010, 2013) and at St. Thomas's: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cT2ovm2MKpuqAKJm8
May she rest in peace.
Karen Kirby
May 1, 2021
I took all the courses Katherine gave at Carleton's Learning in Retirement for the pure delight in being entertained and educated by such a delightful teacher. No one attending will forget the day she wore her tutu. I looked forward to her regular, witty blogs. And a trip with her touring company to see the best of ballet is on my post pandemic list. It is hard to believe she is gone. To her family, I offer condolences as you have lost an amazing kin.
Kathy Peel
May 1, 2021
It was always a good day when I could stand next to Katherine at the ballet barre. Her formidable mind remembered all of the exercise so I could follow her and her dedication to beauty was always inspiring. Conversations before and after class were equally stimulating, often involving some new usage of a word as she defended her belief that language is ever changing and evolving. Her knowledge about ballet was always valued. I remember in particular her insistence that my husband and I see Mark Morris’s L’ Allegro il Penseroso when it was performed in Toronto. She was right, it is life affirming and I will think of Katherine every time I see it.
Mary Ehret
April 30, 2021
Katherine holds a special place in the hearts of those involved with Ballet Arizona. She always generously shared her unsurpassed ballet knowledge during her times in Phoenix, and we were all so fortunate to have shared her enthusiasm and love of ballet. Adieu Katherine-you will be missed.
Cecilia Rossos
April 30, 2021
Katherine, you are and will always be in the minds of those who knew you as a lovely, talented lady of great personality. Your presence, as defined in the Oxford Canadian Thesaurus which I keep by desk and often consult, will be missed, but the memory of you lives on in all our hearts.
Cecilia
Earl Barnsley
April 30, 2021
My wife & I have had the joy of knowing Katherine for 30 years starting with her being a member of our Parish and subsequently a member of our choir. We also shared her passion for dance and met her regularly at National Ballet performances and members events. However we think her most tangible enduring legacy is the Canadian Oxford Dictionary of which she was Editer-in-Chief. It’s publication touched a patriotic nerve in Canada and was amazingly on the Best Seller List for weeks. It is an exemplary book and it’s definitions and spellings are uniquely Canadian. We belatedly discovered the student edition and Katherine’s hand is obvious. The phonetic pronunciation guides are superb and our grandchildren love it. Katherine will live on in our hearts, minds & words. May light perpetual shine upon her, May she Rest In Peace.
Dorothy Pfeiffer
April 30, 2021
My husband and I went on one of Katherine’s ballet tours to Germany in the summer of 2018. We were very impressed with how organized and well-planned the trip was, right down to the details of my very special dietary needs. In each city, one or two of the dancers from the local dance company were invited to have dinner with us, which was a real treat. Katherine was beyond knowledgeable on every topic. She truly had a brilliant mind. We saw films at the Hot Docs, that Katherine would tell us about from time to time. All the events that Katherine organized, including the High Tea fundraisers for the National Ballet of Canada, were first-class. We will miss seeing her at the ballet and other events.
Our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Valerie Holland
April 30, 2021
Katherine stood beside me at the barre at Metro Movement many times. She adored ballet! I went on one of her wonderful trips to Saratoga Springs to see the New York City Ballet. It was first class. We all had a wonderful time.
I was lucky to be invited to her home for ballet movies and her famous dessert: Pavlova!
She shared her passions with kindred spirits. What would the world be like if we all could be as fearless, dedicated, passionate, hard working, tireless, gentle and kind as Katherine?
It would be so much better!!!
She was an inspiration!
She had so much more to give.
This is such a great loss.
Bob McCollum
April 29, 2021
I had the honour to be one of Katherine's ballet teachers . I taught her at Canada's National Ballet School. My first impression of Katherine in class was that ballet was an important form of expression for her. Her dancing was impassioned and she had lovely use of arms which in ballet is port de bras.The more we began to talk, I realized her incredible grasp of the English language and started following her Word Lady broadcasts on CBC. I will never forget that she invited me and others, from her class, to an English high tea at her home. It was a day I will cherish for always - delicious homemade scones, Devon cream, her preserves and the most perfect tea sandwiches. We all have lost a special human being this week. So goodbye to the Lovely Port de Bras Lady from Ballet Bob.
Jacqueline Elton
April 29, 2021
I first heard Katherine many years ago on the CBC as Canada's Word Lady and thoroughly enjoyed her enthusiasm and language explanations. I was later thrilled to find myself beside her at the barre at NBS where we would chat passionately about language usage and our favourite ballet dancers and ballets. It was wonderful to find someone to share these interests with (not that she would necessarily approve of my ending a sentence with a preposition...) While I thoroughly enjoyed her ballet newsletters, I sadly never made it on one of her wonderful tours ... that pleasure was to be on my post-pandemic bucket list. She touched so many people and we will all miss her dreadfully. My sincere condolences to her family.
Jacqueline Elton
Susan Dalgetty Ezra
April 29, 2021
Katherine was one of the loveliest people I ever met. I will miss seeing her at the ballet. As a Canadian living in London, I looked forward her coming to the UK with Tours en l'Air. I'm so grateful I knew her. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.
Dianne Long
April 29, 2021
I am deeply saddened by the news of Katherine's passing. She was a wonderful lady and an inspirational figure. I had promised her I would be on that post-pandemic tour. An incredible mind and a warm heart. She will be missed. My sincere condolences to her family and friends at this time.
Lucy NATI
April 28, 2021
Katherine, a dedicated, passionate & self driven trip director & planner. I had the privilege & honour to work closely with Katherine for many wonderful years. A true professional, caring & hard worker. She was one that took charge and had no problem rolling up her sleeve; these admirable qualities were respected by many including myself, her suppliers & her clients. Rest well my cherished colleague & friend . You did well!!
Until we meet again, Xo L
Sandra Dennis
April 28, 2021
Katherine's love of ballet was infectious. I loved the way she transitioned from cycling helmet and garb to ballet shoes and ballet garb when coming to dance class. During Covid time, her links to ballet stories and humourous ballet videos were sustaining. As if that wasn't enough, I knew I could always depend on Katherine to elucidate us in her blog, in depth, on any matter concerning the English language - whether it be meaning, pronunciation or origin. What a brilliant mind coupled with such a fun sense of humour. Katherine was truly a unique person whose contribution to the ballet world and to the English language are unparalleled and whose departure has left a huge hole. Her resilience stands as an example to all of us. My heartfelt condolences go out to her family.
Meghan Moore
April 28, 2021
I enjoyed getting to know Katherine over the course of my time singing at St. T's and remember the moment I realized SHE was "the word lady" I had heard on the radio (I was singing with "the word lady"!!). She was such a generous and kind-hearted person. I am so sad to hear of her quick passing. I always admired how passionate she was about the things she cared about (be it words, ballet or music) and admired the fact that she did not merely appreciate those things from the sidelines, but rather engaged fully in them - professionally and/or with her whole being. I trust she is at peace now.
Gael Spivak
April 28, 2021
Katherine was a lovely person. Kind, gracious, generous, witty and clever. She regularly contributed her knowledge in Facebook editing groups and she would often answer questions I sent to her. She and I had a lively Messenger chat history that I will miss so much.
She also often commented on my Facebook posts. She taught me that it's ok to say "boughten" (it's in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, she noted, and she told me to go look it up). And she often reminded me that the variant spellings I so often use are not wrong, just variants. She made me feel less stupid!
I was able to see her last March when I was in Toronto for a meeting. I'd invited her to come out for dinner with a group of editors. About 10 of us sat around a table, eating, laughing and drinking. I had no idea that this would be the last time I'd be out with friends for a long while; it was a few days before the pandemic was declared.
She was seated next to me. We laughed about how hard it was going to be to find a keynote speaker to rival her for the next international editing conference (it got cancelled anyway, due to COVID). And we went over the pros and cons of her going ahead with her ballet trip coming up (she had to cancel it, of course, as the world shut down the next week).
She even somehow got me to try some of the Brussel sprouts she had ordered. I hate Brussel sprouts but I could not say no to Katherine. And she was right. They were pretty good.
Knowing now that I will never see her again makes me very glad that we were seated next to each other for that dinner. I was lucky that night. And I was lucky to know her. I will miss her so very much.
Marlyn LeBlanc
April 28, 2021
Katherine was a loving, caring person, both as a teacher and a tour leader. I have enjoyed many of her courses, on English and ballet. She was always entertaining and researched her topics, thoroughly. Having travelled extensively with Katherine on her Tours en L'Air, I have many beautiful memories of the ballets in so many countries. She enriched every journey with visits to see rehearsals and meet many of the people involved in the productions, as well as with cultural tours. She is missed.
To all of Katherine's family, may the wonderful memories you have of her, help you through this time.
Audrey Janeway
April 28, 2021
I am saddened by this news. I first conversed with Katherine through a ballet news website and in our conversation, I was sharply corrected on the misuse of a word! When realizing we would both be in London Uk for a ballet performance, she invited us to meet her (my daughter who was a student at the time but now a professional ballet dancer) and I was honoured to spend some time with her. So sorry for the loss friends and family.
MARILYN SCHULZ
April 28, 2021
My husband and I went on one of Katherine's memorable ballet trips and we were so impressed with everything about the trip, especially her connections with the ballet companies, restaurants, hotels, etc. Just yesterday we were looking at our hundreds of photographs now saved to Google Photos for us to look at for the rest of our lives as a rembrance of our trip. I so enjoyed Katherine's web page full of clips of different ballets and ballet dancers. She shall be missed by a large proportion of Canadians for all that she has contributed over the years.
Candice Helm
April 28, 2021
I have known Katherine for many years- she took my drop in ballet classes at Metro Movement and we always ran into each other at live dance performances. She was so enthusiastic and a positive force in the studio. I will really miss her Tour en l’air emails and the amazing dance excerpts she included. She will be so missed. What a lovely lady.
Janice Kerkkamp
April 28, 2021
I've known Katherine since she joined the choir at St. Thomas's. We sang together in that choir for many years and enjoyed the choir tours to England. In recent years my daughter was also catsitter to Papagena and Minkus whenever Katherine was away. Katherine was a woman of many talents and passions: the Canadian Oxford English Dictionary has pride of place on my dictionary shelf; I enjoyed her books, her blog, and her many Facebook posts about ballet. But what comes to mind first and foremost when I think about Katherine is her kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She was a good friend. My sincere condolences to her family. I know that she loved you very much and was so proud of all of you.
Barbara Datlen-Kelly
April 28, 2021
I took Katherine's course on the history of the English language & her course on ballet, both offered at Later Life Leaning, University of Toronto. She was very informative & entertaining. And many years ago, I was an avid listener to her segments on CBC 's Metro Morning as Canada's Word Lady. She will be very sadly missed. My sincere condolences to Katherine's family.
Jean Iu
April 28, 2021
There were so many aspects of Katherine. I first met her as a dancer, cycling to ballet classes, and occasionally coming into class wearing a tutu and tiara. Her enthusiasm and humour were infectious. I've come to admire her through her Tour en l'air newsletters and as the Word Lady. I am sad that I will never be able to know some of the other aspects of Katherine or take that post-pandemic tour.
Katherine had an international following. Like so many, I now feel lost at not knowing what I should watch or where I should go for great dance performances. I will miss her wit and intellectual curiosity. The world has become a lesser place.
Sincere condolences to her family and the ballet community.
Elisabeth Patrick
April 28, 2021
I was so sorry to hear about Katherine’s passing. I did not know her, but aspired to take one of her ballet trips! It was such a great idea and I feel like I gained a lot of knowledge about what was possible from her messages. May she Rest In Peace.
Sara Woods
April 28, 2021
I had the privilege of knowing briefly with her when I was at OUP where I was in awe of her wit and knowledge. Grant her O Lord, rest and let your love shine on her until that great day of resurrection. Amen.
Audrey Fong
April 28, 2021
Rest well my dearest Katherine as I'll always treasure your humour and warmth in ballet class. Your love and knowledge of ballet was contagious. I will truly miss you.
Gary Smith
April 28, 2021
Katharine Barber was a devoted lover of ballet and dance. It was a joy to watch her face light up with pleasure when she watched a performance or an artist of particular genius. She loved talking about dance and what it meant to her and she was instrumental in bringing the love of this art form to so many people. When she adored a performer she adored him or her completely. Over the years I shared many a conversation with Katharine in coffee shops, lounges and hotel rooms in New York, London, Stuttgart and Toronto. Sometimes late into the night we would trade memories of especially fine performances. Katharine will be missed by those of us who appreciated her enthusiasm, knowledge and exhilaration in dance. She knew what was genuine, good and worth respect. The dance and ballet world will miss her. She was one of a kind.
Jane Spooner
April 28, 2021
Katherine was a much-loved member of the dance community, bringing her knowledge and enthusiasm to everything she did. Her meticulously-planned Tours en l’air trips were enriching and a joy to attend, and she shared her insights in every conversation. She was great fun to be with. Katherine will be missed by all those whose lives she touched. This comes with sincere condolences to her family.
Avivah Wargon
April 27, 2021
I was deeply saddened to hear of Katherine's death. Like many others I was a fan of both her Wordlady posts and her ballet newsletters, and always enjoyed hearing her speak, whatever the topic. She was knowledgeable, intelligent, and funny. She will be very much missed by word-lovers and no doubt by many others.
Joanne mackay-bennett
April 27, 2021
I have such fond memories of Katherine from working with her at Later Life Learning. She was a super-intelligent, dynamic, and often hilarious presenter who held her audience in the palm of her hand. Who will ever forget the day she came to the class in a tutu? Or had all 250 of us attempt various arm positions?
Katherine was a force of life and that is how I will remember her.
Heartfelt condolences to her family.
Gail Oleszkowicz
April 27, 2021
I have travelled with Katherine on several ballet trips, most recently to Stuttgart, Germany. She was a tireless organizer and brought joy and satisfaction to us all on our trips. She went out of her way to bring a wonderful experience of travel to us, not only ballet but the local cultural experiences as well. Her personal connections to the ballet dancers and others from the ballet world gave us the "inside" information and connections to their personal stories and experiences. I loved that she connected with the Canadian ballet stars and brought them to our dinner table. Katherine is a talent lost to us all, especially the ballet world!
Judy Durie
April 27, 2021
My sister Anne who lives in England and I went on two of Katherine's wonderful Ballet trips and I also attended many of her ballet and language courses here in Toronto. We are both devastated to hear the sad news of her passing and send her family our deepest sympathy.
Katherine was passionate about what she did and we greatly admired her knowledge and enthusiasm.
With sympathy to her family. Judy Durie and Anne Mackay.