Christine
"Barbara Allison is singing at the church this morning so get a leg on", was a not infrequent announcement by my father on any given Sunday, when I was a child. As an Elder at Capilano United Church in North Vancouver he had a hand in her visits to sing lovely solo pieces for the congregation. As the brother of a professional singer, who knew a good voice when he heard it, and mindful of her situation as a single-mother/uni student (in the 1960's) he was supportive and also made me aware of her talent. When I met and befriended her daughter Kathy, a few years later, I was thrilled to actually get close to her glamour and enjoy cups of tea in the kitchen of their charming old house on Bowser Avenue while listening to her stories, opinions, knowledge of music and sheer presence. I can still hear her laughing. I visited her before setting off to NYC some years later and she told me that if I was good here then I would be good there and I took those words of confidence with me everywhere. She was indeed generous and helped me significantly when I returned to Vancouver during my own challenges. I regret not seeing her in the last years but I have good memories and I will cherish them forever. No doubt she is in heaven singing beautiful solo pieces and entertaining all (especially my dad) with her marvelous stories and points of view. I already miss having Barbara in my life but I especially send my love and sympathy to Kathy at this time.
Wednesday March 4, 2015 at 12:07 pm
