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In Memory of
Phyllis Kathleen
Barwell (Honsberger)
1926 - 2018
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Obituary for Phyllis Kathleen Barwell (Honsberger)

Phyllis Kathleen  Barwell (Honsberger)
PHYLLIS BARWELL (HONSBERGER) 1926-2018
Phyllis (Honsberger) Barwell (nee Crutchfield) has died at the age of 92. Her life was characterized by cheerfulness despites life’s circumstances, a habit she picked up living through the Blitz during the Second World War. Although she loved her adopted country Canada, she remained British to the bone: A staunch monarchist, always polite (particularly to people she disliked), and insisting on a properly brewed cup of tea. Born Jan 16, 1926, in Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire, England, she was the daughter of First World War veteran Arthur Crutchfield and his wife Winifred. The Second World War brought an end to the quiet village life with big sister Joyce and little sister Betty. Disruptions of school and daily life, rationing, evacuations, and the threats of gas attacks and air raid precautions became the norm. This may well be where she learned the value of serving others. Still a teen, she moved to London to train and work as a nurse and midwife. Heading off with a bicycle and a medical bag to deliver babies was just the beginning of a life-time of nursing and caring for others. In 1952, she answered a newspaper advertisement and was hired to come to Canada as a registered nurse at Tillsonburg Hospital, where she worked until 1986. She married Royal Canadian Navy veteran John Honsberger in 1955. Together they proudly raised three children: Carol, John and Kathleen. Several years after the death of husband John in 1990, Phyllis married Eric Barwell, a veteran of the Royal Air Force. Phyllis was an active and prized member of St John’s Anglican Church in Tillsonburg from 1952 on, participating in roles ranging from Anglican Church Women to choir to hospital visiting. She was also a long-time member of Branch 153 of the Royal Canadian Legion, serving on the executive, in Veterans’ Services, and as a member of the Colour Party, whenever possible carrying her beloved Union Jack. Leading by example, she volunteered for a wide range of charitable and community groups well into her ninth decade of life. Her willingness to lend a helping hand meant her family never knew when some down-on-their-luck stranger would be taken into their home, because Phyllis was a Christian who didn’t merely profess her faith, she lived it. That habit led to a lifetime of unexpected and wonderful experiences and friendships. Her sisterhood of nurses was always close to her heart, and remained involved with the local nurses’ association long after she retired. Parties for retiring colleagues were known to include home-made wines of varying potency as well as lengthy, funny poems she had written for each retiring nurse, works of art that were vastly improved by the serving of those wines. Phyllis always felt lucky to have the love of her parents, sisters, children, grandchildren and friends. “I’ve had a good life,” she used to say “None better.” Phyllis is predeceased by her husband John Honsberger and his brothers Clayton, Stanley, Russell, and Winfred, as well as his sisters Mamie Fairall and Juanita Todd. She is also predeceased by second husband, Eric Barwell, and her sister, Joyce Avory. Phyllis is survived by her children: Carol Honsberger and husband Rev. Rob Doerr of Tillsonburg; John Honsberger and wife Caroline of Pickering; and Kathleen Robinson and husband Ian of Calgary. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Robert and Emily Honsberger and Jillian and Jake Robinson, along with her sister Betty Crutchfield of Hazlemere, England, and numerous nieces, nephews and loved ones in both Canada and the United Kingdom. Phyllis faced Alzheimer’s disease in the last decade of her life, living for more than four years at Tillonsburg’s Maple Manor. The family would also like to thank the staff for the kindness and loving attention to Phyllis during her time there. The family would also like to thank the Alzheimer Society of Canada for the wise counsel and guidance. Her Alzheimer’s journey was remarkable, in that her good spirit, courtesy and kind and loving nature survived the depredations of the disease, with her singing and quips drawing smiles and laughter to the end. Given her love of hymns, perhaps it is appropriate to bid her farewell with the end of the chorus of She Comes Sailing On The Wind: “And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night, full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.”
We will help Phyllis celebrate the next step in her journey with visitation at Ostrander’s Funeral Home, 43 Bidwell Street, Tillsonburg (519-842-5221) on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 form 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The Memorial Service for Phyllis will be held at St. John’s Anglican Church, 46 Ridout Street West, Tillsonburg on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Osita Oluigbo officiating. Memorial donations to St. John’s Anglican Church, Alzheimer’s Society or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.
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