January 20, 1935 – February 11, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce that Faith Arline Austin (nee Barnhardt) passed away peacefully in Merritt on Feb 11th 2021 after a brief but difficult battle with cancer. She is survived by her children Heather (Norm) Pearson, Jeff (Jo) Austin and Jamie (Maria) Austin, her grandchildren: Theresa (Nick), Deanna, Sarah, Jenika, Katie, and Vince, and her 2 great grandsons: Oliver and Jude. Also survived by her sister Shirley Barnhardt who will miss her “baby sister” dearly, plus numerous nieces and nephews, many of whom called her their “Favourite Auntie”.

Predeceased by her beloved daughter Holly, her partner Denis Cote, and 7 of her siblings.

Family was everything to Faith. She grew up as the youngest of the large Barnhardt clan and devoted her life to her siblings, children and grandchildren. She was sadly separated from family for the past year due to COVID but “window visits” with her great grandsons still lit up her life.

Faith also filled her life with music and was a devoted choir member of St Andrew’s United Church for 55 years. We all remember Mom frequently singing around the house. Her flower garden, her photography, and her dog also brought her much joy.

Life presented many challenges for Faith and she met them with grace, tolerance, and her wonderful sense of humour. Her infectious laugh was a source of joy for all those around her.

A huge thank you to Crystal and the staff of Nicola Meadows who cared for Mom for the past 2 years. From the kitchen staff to housekeeping to the Wellness staff, she was always treated with respect and empathy. We are very grateful that Mom’s big dog, Maggie, was allowed to live there with her and provide comfort to her. A special thank you to Audrey, Katrina and Tami for their kind and compassionate care and for treating Mom like family.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Should friends desire, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Faith.

On-line condolences may be expressed at www.MerrittFuneralChapel.com.

• Date : 2021-02-11
• Location : Merritt