Mom passed away peacefully on May 8th at
Peace Portal Seniors Village in White Rock. Barbara
was born January 30, 1924 in Vancouver to Hugh
and Verna (Dennison) McLellan. Her twin brothers
Hugh and Denny arrived in 1927. She was a proud
North Vancouverite raised at the foot of Pemberton.
When her parents decided they needed a more
respectable address for their daughter they moved
to upper Lonsdale. Mom attended North Vancouver
High and after graduation worked in payroll at
Burrard Dry Dock, contributing in her own way to
the war effort. She met engineer William McMillan
(Bill) Sharp in 1948 and after a whirlwind courtship
were married at St Andrews Wesley Church on
October 23, 1948. They moved up-country where
dad worked as a mine manager and civil engineer
in rural communities such as Sandon, Ainsworth,
Silverton, and New Denver. Mom, a city girl used to
stepping out to the Commodore or the Hotel
Vancouver, transitioned to the small town lifestyle.
However, she longed for the Vancouver arts scene
every time she got her hands on the Vancouver
Sun. In time, along came Cindy, Alec and Tony. In
1958, Mom decided her children needed access to
better schools, their cousins, and culture so we
moved back to North Vancouver. Dad practiced as
a consulting geological engineer with Mom helping
extensively in the business. She also worked in Dr.
Ferries’ office and for many years as the trusted file
clerk at MacDonald Supply. Dad died in 1978
leaving Mom a young widow. She resolutely
pressed on hosting parties, traveling extensively
with her cousin Landi and minding her grandchildren
for years to come. Mom was an enthusiastic
devotee and patron of the arts, attending the
ballet, opera, symphony, chamber music, and local
theatre, often with her great friend Harvey. She
was community minded and volunteered with the
North Vancouver Lacrosse Association, Friends of
the North Vancouver Museum and Archives
Society, and Meals on Wheels. Mom always kept
her mind sharp by reading voraciously, and doing
the New York Times crossword puzzle every day.
Mom stayed in the family home until 2011 when her
children gently convinced her to move. At this point
she moved to the Summerhill Retirement Residence
and experienced a personal renaissance in her
health and social life.
Mom will be missed tremendously by her children
Cindy (Wally Pollard), Alec (Karen) and Tony (Val)
and sister-in-law Connie (Hugh). She is lovingly
remembered by six grandchildren Michael and
Diana, and Jacqueline, Ken, Colin and Katherine, as
well as seven great grandchildren Brooklyn and
Sophie, Adrianna and Isabella, and Patrick, Ewan
and Malcolm. She was predeceased by brothers
Hugh and Denny, sister-in-law Aileen (Denny), and
son-in-law Ken Talarico (Cindy).
The family wishes to thank the kind and caring staff
of the Summerhill Retirement Residence and
Peace Portal Seniors Village. A special thanks to
Susan Comeau for her care, attention, and
companionship for Mom.
A celebration of life will be held on July 25, 2018
from 7:00-9:00 pm at The Beachhouse Restaurant
at 150-25th Street, West Vancouver. Friends and
family are welcome to come and share their
memories of Barb’s rich life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
made to the Lauren McLellan Legacy Fund at
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