Obituary of Barbara Marie Rayner

Barbara died peacefully on March 22, 2017, in Strathroy, ON, with her sister Shelagh at her side. Born in Toronto on September 18,1955, Barb was the beloved third daughter of the late George Rayner and the late Phyllis (Gallagher) Rayner of Brantford. Beloved sister of Shelagh (Bruce Peterson) of Mississauga, Moira (Les White) of Ottawa, and George (Lori) of Mississauga. Barb adored her nieces and nephews — Susan, Kathryn (David Lund) and Brian (Chris) Peterson; Emily (Stefan Gingras), Elisabeth (Alex Sarabura), Fraser (Jennalee Desjardins), Anna (Marley) and Mary White; and Abigail, Joshua, Zachary and Jessica Rayner; and her great nieces and nephews — Oliver and Max Gingras; Thomas, James and Emily Sarabura; Isabel King; Cole Peterson; and Mariam Lund. Barb was raised in Toronto and Brantford before moving to London and then Strathroy in the 1980s. Hers was a complicated life, characterized by love of family and friends and an epic struggle with physical and mental illness. Left to mourn her in Strathroy is her long-time partner, Paul Flanagan. In lieu of flowers, Barb’s family requests donations to the Canadian Mental Health Association, or Strathmere Lodge, Strathroy. Cremation has taken place. A funeral mass will be held at St. Ignatius of Loyola Roman Catholic Church, 2300 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Mississauga, Ontario, on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive guests one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment later in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Brantford, ON. Arrangements entrusted to Denning's of Strathroy 519-245-1023.