On February 1, 2023, our beloved Barb passed away into the presence of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in Lethbridge, AB.

Born in Ottawa, ON on August 3, 1940, Barbara Jean Lievers (nee Howitt), the only child of Archibald and Winifred Howitt (nee Wilson), grew up in the Glebe before it was fashionable and put her faith in Jesus as a young child.  After graduating high school, she got a job doing secretarial work for CN-CP Telecom. In January 1970, she met her future husband Kenneth Lievers, a recent Alberta transplant, at a College and Careers church event and they were married in Ottawa at Rideauview Bible Chapel on August 26, 1972. Blessed with two children, she stayed home with them for 10 years before she charged back into the work force, eventually securing a permanent position at Gloucester High School working as a secretary and organizing the class schedule for the entire school. She adored those years working with the amazing office crew and engaging with the hilarious kids.  In 1996, Ken’s job with the federal government transferred them to Lethbridge, AB, where she continued substitute secretarial work part time before her eventual retirement. In 2017, Barb was diagnosed with dementia and Ken lovingly cared for her at home until she moved into Good Samaritan’s Park Meadows Village in May of 2022.

Barb didn’t take herself too seriously. With her quick belly laugh and her zany sense of humour, she was able to see the fun in almost any situation. When asked why so much funny stuff seemed to happen to her, Barb responded that it didn’t – just that she was able to see the humour in it! As an extrovert with unflagging energy, Barb was a people person, full of compassion. A bubbly personality, filled with so much love and warmth, and a powerful gift of gab, she never met a stranger that she couldn’t talk to. One time she answered the phone at her in-law’s place and talked for over an hour.  After hanging up and being asked who that was, she responded “I have no idea. It was a wrong number!”

Barb lived a life of passion and conviction, a life committed to Jesus and serving others in practical ways: as AWANA commander, volunteering in the church nursery, on the food committee planning meals for 300+ people at yearly Easter conferences, playing the piano and organ at church, and always ready for a good chat and a cup of tea. Blessed with a gift of hospitality, Ken and Barb had a myriad of visitors through their home, using their kitchen and dining table to feed and to bless so many people. A jack of all trades, Barb had many skills and hobbies: sewing, cooking, knitting, crocheting, boating, skiing, plumbing, and spending other people’s money. Her favourite place on earth was the cottage built in her childhood by her dad and both grandfathers on Devil Lake just north of Kingston, ON. There she played hours upon hours of board games with family and friends, filling the house with laughter.

Barb is survived by her husband Ken, her daughter Vicki, her son Brent (Jennifer), and their children Rebecca and Benjamin, and her beloved church family at Evangelical Free Church Lethbridge.

She was predeceased by her parents, Archie and Winnie Howitt, and her sisters-in-law Elizabeth and Kathleen.

We wish to express our deepest thanks and appreciation to the staff in Cottage 2 at Good Samaritan’s Park Meadows Village for taking such loving and excellent care of Barb.

 A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at EVANGELICAL Free Church, Lethbridge. To watch the service via livestream, please go to https://youtube.com/live/Zl-gHyfDH_k at the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to ShareWord Global (formerly Gideons International).