Barbara Katheline Janette Perkin (Asham)

January 25, 1928 (St. Victor, SK) – March 11, 2022 (Winnipeg, MB)  

On Friday, March 11, 2022, at 12:50 PM, mom passed away peacefully at the age of 94 at St. Boniface Hospital with family at her side.

She leaves behind her five children, Leslie (Keith), Jackie (John), Janet (Jacques), Gilbert (Janice) and Albert (Tara); grandchildren Marcel (Gwen), Alison (Rod), Lee, Barbie (Jory), Robyn (JR), Kyle, Wyatt (Kianna), Koltin, Caden, Micca (Dustin) and Danielle (Adam); and great-grandchildren Lexa, Haley, Lily, Hanna, Talon, Lenny, Aubrey, Harlynn, Luna, Kali, Brynlee and Asher.

Barb was predeceased by her husband, Vernon John Perkin (Jack); her mother and father Harriette and Gilbert Asham; sisters Marybelle Tanner and Jemima Asham; brothers Clarence and Monty Asham; her sweet angel Angus; niece Rita Tanner; and nephew Donny Tanner.

Mom was born on January 25, 1928, in St. Victor, Saskatchewan. She later moved with her family to Kinosota, Manitoba, to a little mud house with 2 bedrooms, a lovely wood stove and a cold storage room on the floor where gramma Asham stored an assortment of fruits and vegetables.

Mom loved school. Her best friend and older sister, Marybelle (Mary), guided her through her first years. One of mom’s greatest disappointments was that she couldn’t pursue a career in medicine. At the age of 14 she left home to work on a farm as the wife’s right hand.

Barb was first introduced to Jack, her husband, by her dear friend Alma in 1951. They married on May 3, 1952, in Vancouver, BC.

Barb’s long and successful career in the foodservice industry began at the cafeteria in Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba. In the mid-60s, she worked at the well-known cafe called the 4th Dimension in Regina, SK. She got to meet up-and-coming folk artists like Joni Mitchell. Mom became the manager at the cafeteria at The Mint.

Barbara and her Jack were stationed in Nova Scotia, where Leslie and Jackie were born, New Brunswick, where Janet and Gilbert were born and later stationed in Regina, where Albert was born. When dad went missing in Vietnam mom made the decision to move to Winnipeg to be closer to family. Grandpa and Gramma Asham stayed with us until we finished the school year and then we were off to our new life in Winnipeg.  Mom had five kids, no job, she didn’t even know how to drive a car but with the help of her family she always stayed strong for us. Christmas, Easter, birthdays – they were always special.  She never let us see her down.  She truly was our anchor.

When Jackie bought the homestead on Pilgrim Avenue, mom lived with each of her children for two months at a time until she settled down with her eldest child, Leslie, in St. Adolphe in 2008, where she remained. She also devoted time to caring for her niece, Rita, until her untimely passing in 2003.

Barb was the best grandma; she spent her early years of retirement devoted to caring for all of her grandchildren at one point or another, sometimes the six eldest all at once. She had many talents, including knitting, baking, and singing (Walking After Midnight, sticks out). She also had many hobbies like bingo, cribbage, reading, and crossword puzzles. She was a champion shuffleboard player and bowler, a fierce competitor. Barb loved going to the casino with her girls. She loved her music, especially when she could no longer see; her favorite artists were Don Williams, Chris Kristofferson, Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings, and Patsy Cline. Her all-time favorite musicians were her sons and grandsons.

Barb had an extraordinary ability to make anyone and everyone feel special, make them feel like her favorite. She was kind, gentle, compassionate and fair with everyone. Mom would always tell you what you needed to hear and not always what you wanted to hear, always good strong advice.  She had a few sayings and they are truly words to live by – “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” and “this too shall pass”.

Mom, our hearts are aching for you but we find comfort in knowing you are reunited with dad.

We would like to thank the Cardiac and Palliative Care staff at St. Boniface Hospital for their kind and gentle care in her last days. We’d like to say a sincere thank you to our sisters Leslie and Janet and their husbands Keith and Jacques for opening their homes up to mom and taking such good care of her over the years.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., in the chapel of Voyage Funeral Home, 220 Hespeler Ave at Henderson Hwy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CNIB as they provided immense support to her when she lost her sight.