June 18, 1952 – January 2, 2020
Following a courageous battle with cancer. Survived by her best friend and husband of 33 years, Lionel Belman. Son Aaron, and special friend, Ana. Daughter of mother, Phyllis Neilson and late father, Jack Neilson. Survived by brother Peter Neilson (Liz), nieces Lisa (Ramon), Heather (Andrew) and Janet (Matt), and nephew Andrew (Judy), and great nieces Monica and Coraline, and great nephews Adam, Jack and Ben, and very special family friend, Carlos Manueles.
Barbara dedicated her life as a social worker in the Urology Department at Toronto’s Sick Children’s Hospital. She grew up and received her early education in Leamington and Harrow, and then earned her BSW at the University of Windsor, and her MSW at McMaster. She constantly helped educate others as a mentor, and as a presenter at many national and international conferences. She never stopped learning and teaching.
In her leisure time she enjoyed her music, summers with family at the cottage, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, sailing, travelling to Burning Man in the Hippie Van with Aaron, sled dog mushing in Haliburton and as a team member in the Yukon Quest, enjoying her poodles, the rich cultural mosaic of Toronto, and establishing a world-wide network of dozens of friends and acquaintances through her many adventures couch surfing. She really was the ultimate life-long hippie, and enjoyed that role immensely.
Thanks to the special staff at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto who helped ease her final days with great care and compassion. While taken too soon, she leaves a lifetime of wonderful memories and smiles to all who knew her. She will be missed.
At her request, cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will occur at a future date.