Barbara A. Appleby

Barbara Ann Appleby, of Hartland, New Brunswick, was ushered home to be with her Lord and Saviour on Thursday, February 22, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer. A woman of great faith, she was entirely convinced of, and content with, what the Psalmist said of God: "My times are in Thy hand." (Psalm 31:15)

Barbara was born on January 22, 1949, in Woodstock, Carleton County, New Brunswick. She was the youngest of ten children born to Alfreda (Staples) and Arnold Peterson. As a little girl, Barbara had trusted Christ as her Saviour in a Sunday School class. She grew up and attended a one-room schoolhouse in Charleston through grade 6 and then finished school in Centreville, NB. Following high school, she attended New Brunswick Bible Institute in Victoria Corner, NB, graduating in 1970. It was there that Barbara met her husband of more than 53 years. She and Jim were married on September 19, 1970.

Except for a very brief time following their marriage, Barbara and Jim made their home in Carleton County where they raised their family of four boys. While home was Barbara’s first priority, she worked for a number of years for the Bank of Montreal – first in Hartland and then in Woodstock after the Hartland branch was closed. An avid sports fan, she eagerly attended the basketball games in which their sons played.

In 1977 Jim and Barbara began twenty-one years in children and youth ministry with Awana Clubs International, working with over 100 churches throughout Atlantic Canada and New England. This was followed by fifteen years on White Head Island, NB, where Jim served in pastoral ministry.

Barbara is survived by her husband Jim; her sons Dan (Karin) of Halifax, NS, and their children Abbey and Will; David (Heather) Appleby of Quispamsis, NB, and their children Kiersten (Ben) Myles of Long Reach, NB; Brennan Appleby of Quispamsis, NB; Liam (Kirsten) Appleby of Fredericton, NB; Falon Appleby and Morghan Appleby of Quispamsis, NB; Philip (Melanie) Appleby of Clifton Royal, NB, and their children Regan, Callum, Alana, Maeve, and Clara; Ben (Lacey) Appleby of Saint John, NB, and their children Wynn and Molly; brothers Gary Peterson of St. Thomas, ON, and Malcolm (Sharon) Peterson of Salmon Arm, BC; sisters Naida Beal of Londonderry, NH, and Mavis McCarty of Hartland, NB; several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Barbara was predeceased by her brothers Carl, Vernon, and Lloyd Peterson, and her sisters Shirley (Knowles) and Thetis (Scott).

The family wishes to extend our deepest and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Rudy Stocek for his years of friendship and excellent medical care, the staff on 2 East at the Upper River Valley Hospital, Ambulance NB, and the wonderful Extra-Mural team.

Visitation will be held from the Britton Funeral Home, 2 High St. Hartland on Monday, February 26th, 2024, from 5-7 p.m.The funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 27th at 1:00 p.m. pm from The People’s Church in Somerville, NB, with Pastor David Appleby officiating. Interment will be in The People’s Church Cemetery, in Somerville, NB, at a later date.

For those who wish, donations may be made to The People’s Church or River Valley Cancer Support Group. www.brittonfh.ca. 506-375-4343

The People’s Church
2608 Route 103
Somerville, NB E7P 3A9

River Valley Cancer Support Group
PO Box 854
Hartland, NB E7P 3K4