Obituary of Barbara Helen Cantlon

Obituary Barbara Helen Cantlon (nee Thomson) was born April 14, 1930 to William John Thomson and Flora Cumming MacKenzie. She was the 3rd of 7 children, 2 sisters and 4 brothers and like all of her siblings; she was delivered at her home on Interlocken farm in Neelin, Manitoba. Interlocken is a Scottish word meaning between two lakes, in this case Pelican Lake and Lake Lorne in Pembina Valley. Barbara wrote in her journal, “It was during the depression years and times were hard. My father would cut trees from the hills around the valley and haul the logs, by team to town (Killarney) and sell them to buy groceries.” Describing her home, she wrote, “The house was a two story house with a dirt floor basement, 2 large rooms, kitchen, and front room with archway into sitting room with a bay window with four bedrooms upstairs. When I was a child every fall we would move our kitchen into the front room because the kitchen was a build on and never insulated until years later. So it was a big fall move every year, and we would be cozy for the cold months. The house was heated by a coal and wood furnace in the basement.” Barbara attended the Killarney High school and upon graduating went on to Manitoba Provincial Normal School in Winnipeg and obtained her Teacher’s certificate. She taught at several schools, 1 of which was Little Souris School at Brandon Manitoba. Mom had a deep passion for the Scottish bagpipes; she would often say she could just feel that music right in her blood, a part of her DNA. Dances were the main social activity and Mom was always to be found out on the dance floor with the most handsome boys in the town. It was during this time that her oldest sister, Janet met Lynn Cantlon, brother of Peter Alvin Cantlon and married in 1948 at their home on the farm. It took several more years and more teaching opportunities for Barbara, when another wedding announcement was made. Peter Alvin Cantlon and Barbara Helen Thomson were married December 27, 1952 and moved to Fort Nelson, British Columbia. After their 1st child Ann was born in Dawson Creek, BC. 1953 and their 2nd child, Deborah was born in Burnaby, BC. 1957 they decided to put down roots in Port Alberni, BC and had their remaining 4 children, John, Todd, and the twins, Dan and Marie. Alvin and Barbara moved out of town to a small farm and built a house to raise the family in. To this day, that house stands solid and is still recognizable to the youngest of the children. Alvin and Barbara joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, December 6, 1959 at Port Alberni and on Sept 16, 1962 were sealed for eternity in the Cardston Temple, Alberta. Like her husband, Barbara remained faithful and converted to the Lord and lived her life so as to exemplify the teachings and doctrines of their religion. Mom held many different teaching positions in the church but her true passion rested in working and building her genealogical tree and helping others to find their ancestral roots. In 1971, Alvin and Barbara left civilization as they knew it and took on the challenge of living on the wild frontier. They moved all the family to a ranch north of Fort St. John, BC. on the Upper Halfway River. The ranch was named, “Sweetwater” for the sparkling clear water that ran down the hills, channeled through hoses to fill a huge basin within our home. Barbara utilized her teaching skills and home schooled all 6 of her children until a one room school came open to the community. In 1976 the family moved to the Cache Valley Ranch, continued to raise cattle until 1978 when they moved into Fort St. John and then Charlie Lake for a few more years before moving back into Fort St. John. No matter what house they settled in, Mom had a real green thumb and grew the most beautiful flower beds and gardens that beautified any area she set her hand to. After the death of Alvin in 1995, Barbara lived on her own for a few months until her oldest son honored his Father’s last wishes to be sure his Mother was cared for in her remaining years thereby providing a home of love and security for Mom until she passed through the veil, July 13, 2023. Barbara is survived by her 6 children: Ann Thomas, Deborah Lambson (Milton), John Cantlon, Todd Cantlon (Tanya), Marie Harris, Dan Cantlon (Sherry). She is also survived by her last living sibling, Elizabeth Ann Dixon (née Thomson) 23 Grandchildren and 18 Great Grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. After a long separation of 28 years, Barbara has been reunited beyond the veil with her eternal companion of 43 years, Peter Alvin Cantlon as well as her father: William John Thomson, mother: Flora Cumming Thomson ( nee MacKenzie) a brother and sister that were taken back to heaven the day they were born, 4 brothers: William, Donald, George and Duncan and her beloved sister Janet , 3 sons-in-law: Robert Thomas, Jeremy Harris, Gerald Gregory and two grandson’s: Garrett Evan Cantlon and Blayze Jared Harris. Services Funeral Service Thursday July 20, 2023 2:00 PM Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 11412 - 100 Street Fort St John, BC V1J4H5 Interment to follow Thursday July 20, 2023 Woodlawn Cemetery 12704 86 St Fort St. John, BC V1J 4M6