Barbara Diane Arnal (née Jackson), 72, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2024, after a two-year battle with cancer and dementia. Born on May 18, 1952, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Barb lived a full and vibrant life, leaving a positive impact on countless people throughout her journey.
Overcoming a challenging childhood and poverty, Barb pursued her dream of becoming a teacher, earning a university education. Her teaching career was filled with wonderful experiences and friendships which remained to this day. In 1982, Barb retired from teaching to focus on her true calling as a mother after her daughter Kimberly was born. She cherished her role as a stay-at-home mother and ensured her children felt the presence of their grandmother, Alma, who passed away when Barb was just 30. While Barb took her last breath listening to Bon Jovi, we know she was thinking about getting to hug her mother, her puppies Riley and Abbey and grandpup Eddie.
Barb was known for her warm hospitality and incredible culinary skills. Her home was always open to friends and family, and her pantry and fridge were stocked like a grocery store, leading to jokes about going grocery shopping in her basem*nt. Her cooking inspired her son, Andrew, who followed in her footsteps. Barb was immensely proud of her children’s achievements and loved telling anyone who would listen about her firefighter son and lawyer daughter. One of her happiest days was when she got to ride in a firetruck; the smile on her face was one of the biggest we have ever seen.
A devoted fan of Bon Jovi, Barb traveled far and wide – despite her fear of flying – to see the band perform. She had the singer's signature tattooed on her arm and a portrait tattoo on her leg. Barb's collection of Bon Jovi memorabilia was unmatched, and his music brought her comfort during difficult times.
When Barb’s daughter Kimberly was in grade 10, an exchange student Chrystelle, from France, came to live with the Arnal family for 2 weeks and then returned for that summer and many other occasions over the last 27 years including visiting with her son Enaël, who Barb loved dearly. Chrystelle was like a daughter to Barb and they stayed very close over the years. Most recently Chrystelle arrived the day before Barb passed away and was able to spend time with her and say goodbye. Though she couldn’t tell us, we know this comforted Barb and that she heard Chrystelle talking to her and felt her holding her hand.
In her later years, Barb worked at IKEA, a perfect fit for her love of home decoration. Her homes were stylish and well-organized, yet filled with every imaginable item. Friends joked that if you needed anything, Barb likely had two of it, from new VCRs to coffee makers.
Her grandchildren were the light of her life, and she often spoke of Emersyn's love of performing and Preston's love of hockey. If you asked Grammie she was certain Emersyn would be a famous movie star one day and Preston a player in the NHL.
Barb is survived by her daughter Kimberly (Colin); her son Andrew (Tanya); and her beloved grandchildren, Emersyn and Preston.
Barb's family would like to express their gratitude to her dear friends who supported her during her final years, including her best friend of 53 years, Margaret Ellison, her dear friend Flo Lewis, and her "sister" Marsha Arnal, with whom she shared a deep bond for 45 years. We know she also took great comfort in her visits with her friends Deb, Stacie, Anita and Ellen.
**Kimberly and Andrew: We love you, Mom. Thank you for always making us a priority and always supporting our dreams. We were so lucky to have you as our Mom.
**Chrystelle: Merci pour tout l’amour que tu m’as donné. Merci d’avoir été ma Maman Canadienne depuis le 1er jour de notre rencontre.
**Emersyn (age 12): Your cookies always cheered me up. Thank you for teaching me crafts and cooking. Thank you for always trying so hard to make me happy. I love you.
**Preston (age 8): Thank you Grammie for always playing with me. I love you.
A celebration of Barb’s life, featuring Bon Jovi music and light snacks, will be held from 1:00pm – 4:00pm on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at Hampton Inn by Hilton Winnipeg Airport/Polo Park, in the Polar Bear Room.
Barb’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.
