Obituary of Beulah Barss

March 17, 1931 – Mossbank, Saskatchewan

October 1, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

With great sadness, we announce the passing of our mother Bunny (Beulah May) Barss, on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, in Calgary, AB.  Bunny was born at home on the farm, near Mossbank, SK in 1931, and lived a full and rewarding life as the wife of David, mother of Richard (Jane), Russell (Kathy), Alex (Tanja), and Peter (Katherine); grandmother to Leila, Neil, Nate, Jeff, Ellen, Kaylee, Megan, Hannah, and Keegan; and great-grandmother to Polly, George, and River.

As the daughter of a Saskatchewan pioneer family, she spent her early years on their farm and school years in Moose Jaw, SK. She obtained a B.HSC from the University of Saskatchewan and a dietetic internship from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, QC. During summers at university, she worked at Lake Louise, AB, and fell in love with the mountains, which enticed her to Calgary where she met and married a young geologist, David. While raising four boys, she also obtained her MA from the University of Calgary (specializing in Adult Education).

Bunny enjoyed many adventures with family and friends, hiking, skiing, backpacking, playing tennis and bridge, travelling, and vacationing at the family cabin on Kootenay Lake. Among her many adventures, she was proud to have completed the Chilkoot Trail in the Yukon at age 62.

Professionally she worked in hospitals as a dietitian, assisting patients, teaching nutrition to student nurses and community groups, and developing recipes for the food industry. Bunny served as a returning officer during several provincial and federal elections. She also dedicated much of her time to volunteering in her community, with the Senate of the University of Calgary, the Calgary Parks and Recreation Board, the Family Service Bureau Board, the Junior League, and the Samaritan Club.

Her memories of prairie life sparked an interest in pioneer history, particularly regarding food culture. She wrote several books about prairie foods, customs, recipes, and vignettes of prairie life. Some of her books are still in print and earned her a place in the Hall of Fame of the Culinary Historians of Canada.

The family would like to thank the staff of Staywell Manor for their care of Mom in recent years.

A Celebration of Bunny’s Life with family and friends will be held in the Spring of next year.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Foundation, 1180 – 105 12 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 1A1, Telephone: 403-802-7700, www.calgaryfoundation.org.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Bunny’s family here.

In living memory of Beulah Barss, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.