Rose-Marie Florence Barton

 It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Rose-Marie Florence (Bunny) Barton on June 25, 2019 at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg.

Bunny was born on April 15,1936 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her early years were spent in the mining towns of Central, Beresford Lake and Bissett in eastern Manitoba. In 1954 after completing Grade 12 at San Antonio School she attended Normal School in Winnipeg and taught for 3 years. She then took business training at Success College and worked for the British Consulate in Winnipeg. This led to a move to Minneapolis in 1961 where she worked for the British Trade Commission. She spent the next 51 years in Minneapolis/St Paul, finishing out her career at UPS. She was very active in the St. Paul Curling Club, not only as a curler but also taking executive positions and after becoming a Level 2 instructor, training Junior Curlers. She became a Qui Gong practitioner and loved to share her knowledge of energy healing with family and friends. She attended the theatre and symphony on a seasonal basis. She was a faithful and enthusiastic member of St James Catholic Church. She helped teach English to new Americans and became like family to them. She made a wide circle of lifelong friends.

 After her retirement in 2012, she moved back to Winnipeg. True to her nature, she was soon involved in numerous activities. She became an active member of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church where she embraced her Metis heritage. She curled at Assiniboine Curling Club where she held various executive positions until illness caused her to finally hang up her broom. She continued to practice Qui Gong. She took great joy in attending the Winnipeg Symphony and also the theatre. She renewed old friendships by joining the Winnipeg-based Bissett and Area Historical Society again taking on an executive role.  Always ready to be of service, she took part in the Empathy Project at Headingly Correctional Centre. Her generous nature showed itself when she sponsored children through Unbound for 36 years and supported the Kamala Foundation helping women and children in Nepal from its inception in 2005.

  She was predeceased by her parents, Stavus and Albertine, infant brother, Stavus and brother, Winston as well as niece, Monica Barton and nephew, Michael Parrott.

  Left with wonderful memories are siblings, Brian, Bobbie (Glenn) and Terry (Sheila). She was a beloved aunt to Glenn, Vernon, Michael, Beth, Brenda, Stuart, Melanie, Lawrence, Jeff, Jason, Meghan, Amy, Zachary and Monica and their families. She attended their activities as often as she could and never missed sending cards for birthdays and Christmas always signed with her trademark - a picture of a bunny rabbit.

She travelled to different parts of the world, sharing many family vacations to foreign lands such as Hawaii, Australia and France and Nepal. She also holidayed in Japan, England and Scotland as well as touring Canada and the States.

Funeral mass will be said at 9:30 am on Saturday July 6th at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, 548 Home St. at Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg. Viewing from 9am -9:30am. A Celebration of Life and lunch will follow in the church downstairs hall. Interment will follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery. 3990 Portage Avenue at 1:00 pm.    

In lieu of flowers, should you choose to donate to a charity in Bunny's memory, we suggest the Kamala Foundation at kamalafoundation.org (our family charity), or the Canadian Cancer Society.

Special thanks to the Staff at Grace Hospital for the loving care you showed to Bunny and our family while we went through a difficult time. It is much appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rose-Marie Florence Barton, please visit our floral store.