LARONDE, Barbara Mary Ellen
Peacefully passed away, knowing she was deeply loved, at Northern Heights Community in North Bay on Monday, August 24, 2026, at the age of 95 years.
Barbara was the beloved wife of the late Willis Dave Laronde and loving mother of Mary Elizabeth Laronde, David Dennis Laronde (Carolyn), the late Thomas Edward Laronde, Sandra Ann Laronde, and the late Allan George Laronde. She was the cherished grandmother of Barbara “Bobbie,” Zachariah, Jasmine, Haley, Katie, Sadie, Willow, and Kiiwedin, and great-grandmother of Theodore.
Barbara will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, quick wit, and love of laughter. She loved to tease and be teased and genuinely enjoyed being around people. She loved people, and people loved her in return.
Music was a great joy throughout Barbara’s life. For decades, she sang in the choir at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Temagami, where her faith, community, and love of music came together. She loved to dance, especially tap dance, and was an enthusiastic sports fan who enjoyed baseball, hockey, and curling. Barbara had a special love for babies; she would light up whenever she saw one and was always delighted to hold them.
Barbara lived a long life filled with family, faith, music, laughter, and an enduring love of people. Her kindness and generous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Barbara was the beloved eldest sister of the late Verla Moore (Eddie), Marion Blake (Fred), the late Caroline Pridham (Frank), Ron Turner (Terry), Marjorie Roy (Eddie), and the late Larry Turner. She was predeceased by her parents, George Turner and Mary (née McBride) Turner.
The family will receive visitors at McGuinty Funeral Home in North Bay on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Temagami on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a committal service at Whispering Pines Cemetery in Temagami.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Box 148, Temagami, Ontario P0H 2H0, would be greatly appreciated by the family.
