Obituary of Helen Barnes

Helen Gene Barnes, 99, Harbour View Haven, Lunenburg, formerly of Trenton and New Glasgow, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, just 17 days before her 100th birthday.

Born in Fredericton, N.B., she was a daughter of the late John Anderson and Nellie Maude (Clark) Sharpe. In the very late 1920’s, the Sharpe family moved to Bass River where Helen received her elementary and secondary education. It was a lively household there with a brother and three sisters, who remained close friends and confidents their entire lives. Of course, there were the usual competitions between siblings during games of scrabble and tennis, and the occasional elbowing in front of the hall mirror when “fixin up” for the dinner guests, nearby wartime pilot trainees was in order. The Sharpe children loved their pets, and Helen was particularly fond of cats, especially her “Sweetheart” stray kitten that she adopted in Trenton and brought with her to New Glasgow in 1977.

For many years Helen and her husband Gerald enjoyed happy times at their Bass River cottage, spending time with family and friends. There were many reunions of the Sharpe girls and their families, and many musical evenings at the family home in Bass River.

Helen received her formal post secondary teacher training at the former Provincial Normal College, Truro and taught in River Hebert, Parrsboro, Westville and Trenton schools. 
 

Helen was a member of Trenton Church of the Nazarene where she served as organist, financial secretary, Sunday School teacher, and missionary study presenter. She enjoyed reading, keeping scrapbooks, playing scrabble, outdoor tennis and indoor table tennis. Helen loved to play her Yamaha organ at home especially when friends would visit and sing while she played. Helen lived her Christian faith each day and displayed it best as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Surviving are her sons, David (Kelly) Barnes, Bridgewater; Rev. Robert “Bob” (Kim) Barnes, Airdrie, Alta.; son-in-law, Scot Hall, Fredericton, N.B.; grandchildren, Jennie, Jeremy, Tyler, Melanie, Mary-Anne, Ben, Maegan and Dan; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Gerald Irwin Barnes; daughter Elizabeth (Scot) Hall, Fredericton, N.B. ; sisters, Mary Sharpe; Alice (Danny) Robb; Hazel (Frank) Locke; brother, John Burdette Sharpe.

The family will receive visitors 1- 1:50 p.m. Wednesday, November 13 in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home Chapel, New Glasgow from where funeral service will be held 2 p.m. with Pastor Michelle Porch officiating. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery.

Many thanks to the caring and compassionate staff at Harbour View Haven who cared for her the last four plus years; to her special friend Vivian and her dedicated homecare givers Cathy, Donna, Mable, Lorraine, Kathleen and Kim who enabled her to remain at home in New Glasgow until her move to Lunenburg in 2020; and to her faithful church and community friends who visited often.

Donations may be made in Helen’s memory to Trenton Church of the Nazarene, an animal shelter or any other charity of your choice.

For funeral serivce livestream, please click HERE