Smeaton woman celebrates turning 107

“Really?” replied Barker. “I don’t feel all that old, like that.”

“I can still do what I want to do,” Barker continued, finishing off with a childlike giggle.

From that point on she seemed to be transported back to her past. She began talking about gardening at her mom’s house and the effort she put in to making it look nice as a young girl.

Gardening was, and still is, one of her many passions.

Tessmer, who was named after her grandmother—the ‘i-n-a’ in Trina is a tribute to Ina—said she remembers all the things Barker used to do.

“She was really wild about gardening, her quilts—quilts everywhere—and fishing, she loved fishing,” said Tessmer.

“She was still fishing at like 100-years-old.”

In 1912, Barker came to Canada with her mother, Maud Brown, and two siblings when she was just four years old. The ship they boarded from England, the Megantic out of Liverpool, just happened to set sail shortly after the Titanic, according to family members.

Barker’s father, William Brown, had already been in Canada for a year and had saved enough money to bring his family over to join him. They soon settled around the Tisdale area.

“I wish I could tap her stories. I wish I could hear it all,” said Tessmer. “I wish I could hear what she thought when she moved out here and they were living in a shack.”

Tessmer said Barker is definitely thrifty, holding true to the reputation of most people who lived in the dirty thirties.

“It just blows my mind how they made things work,” said Tessmer.

All the hundreds of quilts Barker sewed were made from recycled material.

As a teen, Barker started housecleaning for other families. That’s when she met her future husband Walter Barker. The two homesteaded together in Snowden in the 1930s and had four kids.

The pair retired from farming in 1973 and moved to Nipawin. In 1994 Walter died.

At the age of 99, Barker decided to move to North Haven Retirement Home where she’s lived ever since.

Tessmer said Barker has always been a very healthy person and has shocked many people with the condition she’s in at her age.

“Quite a long time ago she got a pacemaker. Pacemakers have a battery life and that battery life should’ve been long gone,” said Tessmer laughing.

Her grandmother always was a stubborn person, she said.

“She’s got quite firm beliefs. She also will say exactly what she thinks,” said Tessmer. “She’ll say it as she sees it.”

Barker is still a big part of their family, according to Tessmer. Tessmer’s mother spends a lot of time with Barker and so does Tessier, who lives not far from the home.

“Christmases, Easter, Mother’s Day we’re with her. She’s always there,” said Tessmer.

Although old age is marvelled by all, Tessmer said she’s seen its downsides.

“What’s kind of sad of her age is a lot of the people she knew are gone,” said Tessmer.

One of Barker’s brothers is still alive but it’s difficult for the two to see each other when neither can travel.

Another issue that Barker is facing is the recent onset of Alzheimer’s. Some days, Barker can’t piece her life together in her own head. Some days, she has trouble remembering where her shoes are.

“She has good days and bad days,” said Tessmer. “I’ve learned a lot about Alzheimer’s. I’ve learned never to disagree with what’s said.”

“She was very good until a short time ago. When she actually stopped doing her seed pictures and her quilts, that’s when things started slide a bit.”

“We came from England and this is the little house we came to. It was a long time ago,” said Barker. Tessmer showed her a picture of her as a little girl in front of her parents’ first house. This simple act brought the memories rushing back.

“I liked raising chickens, and ducks and everything else on the farm,” continued Barker. “I don’t like cities like I like farming.”

“I worked outside for different people for quite a few years before I got married.” Tessmer nods along, encouraging her, but that’s all she can remember for the day.

On Sunday, Barker’s family is gathering to celebrate her birthday. The home where she lives is hosting a come and go tea from 2-4 p.m.

Tessmer said the family plans on getting together for the week.

“That way, the ones who live far away can take turns visiting her. That way she isn’t overwhelmed by all the people.”

asoloducha@panow.ca

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Smeaton woman celebrates turning 107

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