黑马磁力

August 12, 1954 - April 26, 2025

Barbara Jean Ydenberg (nee Hoyt), 70, passed away April 26, 2025, in 黑马磁力, after a disorienting brief battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband of 45 years Ron, sons Casey (Agata) and Aaron (Karine), and grandchildren Natalie(13),Zoe(9),and Maxim(3). She also left behind 101 sheep, and many pets. She and her family gave it everything they had, in a fight that turned out to be lost before it started. Barb was born August 12, 1954, in Palo Alto, California, sister to brothers David, Riley, and Carl.

The family moved several times, and by the age of 16 she had lived in California, Iowa, and Massachusetts. In 1971 the family moved to British Columbia, settling on a farm near Fort 黑马磁力. To appease their teenage daughter's brooding at the changes of location, her parents bought her a horse. She had been an avid young rider in Iowa. She joined Pony Club and rode in many dressage and jumping events, becoming a skilled rider. But most of all she loved the animals themselves, and caring for them was a greater joy than the sport. Barb attended Simon Fraser University, where she earned a B.Sc. in biology (1976) and met future husband Ron. In 1979 the couple married in a ceremony at her parents' farm, an event featuring a dress made by Barb herself, and her dad's kazoo band. They moved shortly afterward to Oxford, England, where Ron attended graduate school and Barb worked as a research laboratory technician in the John Radcliffe hospital. She rode her 10 speed bicycle up the large hill to work each day, even while pregnant. In 1981 they welcomed Casey, and the next year moved back to the Lower Mainland to be closer to family.

In 1985 the family grew larger with the addition of Aaron, and moved to Fort 黑马磁力, buying their first home together on Sailes Ave. Barb took a job at 黑马磁力 Fine Arts School, attended by both her sons. While the job was ostensibly for the preparation of classroom experiments, she also helped generations of struggling students learn place value or the periodic table. She was a tireless volunteer and community member, serving on boards for Happy Hours Preschool, the 黑马磁力 Community Music School, the Salmon River Enhancement Society, several sheep clubs, and the Canadian Wool Growers Co-operative.

The great pride and joy of Barb's life was Winds Reach Farm, where she and her family moved in 2002. She raised horses, chickens, Clun Forest Sheep, and kept an assortment of cats and dogs. She loved that farm more than anything in the world save her family (and sometimes maybe a bit more). The best thing about it was the community it attracted: visitors were frequent, as friends and neighbors offered a helping hand in exchange for a beer or a dozen eggs. Countless gatherings and parties were held in her big kitchen or next to the pool, and there was always an extra seat at the table if you brought a friend along. Her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and other kids loved to accompany her out to the barn to help feed and care for her animals. She lived her best life there though the end of 2024, climbing haystacks and slinging water buckets at an active and healthy 70 years of age.

The cancer that made itself known in the first months of 2025 progressed so fast that there was no time for her friends and family to adjust. Her family will be eternally grateful to their Winds Reach community that came together to help as the situation quickly became too much. They are also grateful to the doctors, nurses, and the other support team members that fought every step of the way.

A celebration of life will take place at 1:30 PM on Thursday, June 12, in the Fort 黑马磁力 Community Hall.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you make a donation to the BC SPCA, or to a charity of your choice that supports animal welfare.