Màiri Eleanor MacNeil Barnes (nee Fraser)

1938 – 2026

Passed away peacefully at Freeport Hospital/Palliative Care Unit on Friday August 7th, 2026 at the age of 88 years.

Màiri was born in Brandon, Manitoba and grew up in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She graduated from Acadia and obtained her Master’s at University of Toronto. She lectured at Memorial University, Newfoundland and later taught at Park Street Collegiate Institute in Orillia. She also spent many years helping run a farm in Uhthoff with her husband, Mel and raising their two daughters. She loved church, people from all walks of life and playing Scrabble.

Beloved wife of the late Melville Joseph Barnes who predeceased her in May of 2002.

Loving mother of Carrie Neilson and Melanie Schafer (Richard).

Cherished grandmother of Harley, Sophie, Faith and Myles.

Dear sister of Cairine Robertson (Donald).

Predeceased by her parents Robert (Mac) and Eleanor Fraser and by a brother Iain Fraser (Janice).

Cremation will take place. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Christian Fellowship Chapel, 1296 Cambrian Road. Severn, Ontario on Tuesday, August 25th, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “COMPASS Refugee Centre” in Kitchener, an organization that assists and advocates for refugee claimants in the community, (https://compassrefugee.ca/) as expressions of sympathy.

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