Obituary of Barbara Dorothy Fox

With deep sorrow we announce the death of Barbara Dorothy Fox (née, Gilson) after a period of illness with dementia. She was 91 years old.

Born March 18, 1933 in London, England as eldest daughter to Douglas William Henry Gilson and Dorothy Kate Benton, Barbara spent her formative years there with her parents and sister, Tessa, who was five years younger. Barbara was much affected by her time in England during WWII.

At age 19, she immigrated to Canada with her first love and soon-to-be husband, Deryck Hazel, and his family. The couple lived in various places in Ontario before settling in Kingston, where they raised their four children: Curtis, Amanda, Melissa, and Jennifer.

Barbara and Deryck were integrally involved in the early years of Kingston's Domino Theatre, where they formed part of a thriving community of actors, writers, directors and artists. Barbara maintained her love of the arts for the rest of her life and pursued watercolour painting, embroidery and a passion for music, particularly that of Mozart. She became famous for her cooking at family dinners, day-camping trips to a beloved beach on Amherst Island, and with a devoted circle of fellow foodies, who took it in turn to host elaborate, gourmet dinner parties. This avid interest and talent for creating good food later led Barbara to start her own, successful catering business, including a stint running the summer café at the Grand Theatre.

Barbara will also be remembered by many as the store manager at the renowned emporium, Domus, on Brock St.

On Christmas Eve, 1997, while visiting family in Toronto, Barbara attended service at St. Barnabas on the Danforth, where she met and fell in love with the presiding priest, the Reverend Dr. Douglas James Fox. They were married at the same church a little more than eighteen months later; October 1, 2024 would have marked their 25th wedding anniversary. Barbara and Douglas were part of many congregations in Toronto, Kingston and Sault Ste. Marie. They were an extraordinarily devoted couple and shared a love of music, theatre, books, long walks and traveling to the U.K. to visit with family and friends. They enjoyed a rich family life in Kingston and Toronto, and Douglas became Grandpa to Barbara's many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Barbara's final two years were spent in a nursing-care home, supported by her family, Douglas and staff members. She died in the afternoon on Wednesday, Sept. 25 with family members by her side.

Pre-deceased by her parents and first husband, Deryck, Barbara is survived by her husband Douglas, her sister, Tessa, children Curtis (Jane Hazel), Amanda (Geoffrey Scott), Melissa (Jim Masyk), and Jennifer (Ross Turnbull), step-children Carol Fox and Malcolm Fox, and grandchildren, Emily Cameron, Rachel Hazel, Caitlyn Allen, Benjamin Scott, Tessa Lawless, Maximilian Turnbull, Deryck Hazel, Samuel Allen, Skyler Hazel, Lucy Hazel Turnbull, and Fiona Fox, as well as great-grandchildren, Fiona Hazel, Liam Cameron, Oliver Cameron, Leo Lawless, Marcello Daignault, Isla Cameron, Lainey Lawless, Fi-fi Daignault, Temple Turnbull and Clyde Turnbull, together with nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Greatly loved in life, with her passing Barbara will be hugely missed.

A Funeral Service for Douglas and Barbara will be held at St. George’s Cathedral (270 King St. E.) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 11:00am.  Reception to follow