Barbara "Barb" Digdon

In Loving Memory of Barbara Digdon

1931 – 2026

Barbara “Barb” Digdon was born on Christmas Day, 1931, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to proud parents William “WR” and Mairon (née Morrell) Manning. She died at the age of 94 on April 9, 2026, at Mayflower Meadows in Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Barb left Yarmouth with her mother, Marion, and sisters, Frances and Helene, to stay with their grandparents in Oak Bay while her father, Major William Manning, went off to serve in the Second World War. It was in Oak Bay that Barb’s love of nature and the outdoors sparked. Every spring, she was thrilled to win the school wildflower calendar by finding the most new flowers as they came into bloom. These adventures into the woods would lead her so far astray that she was given a dog to ensure her safe return.

After the war ended, Barb moved with her parents to Bathurst for her last year of high school, where she made several lifelong friends. After high school, she attended Teachers’ College in Fredericton. She then taught at a few rural schools before moving back to Bathurst. It was there that she met Aubrey, when her shoe-store-owning father invited the nice young man from Nova Scotia, who managed a competing store home for Christmas Dinner, so he wouldn’t be alone for the holidays. To her father's surprise, Barb and Aubrey hit it off, and Barb married the competition on December 27, 1954.

In 1959, Barb and Aubrey moved to Chatham, New Brunswick, to open their own business, Digdon’s Shoes Ltd. Together, they lovingly grew both their business and family with dedication and compassion. Their five children, Debi, Nancy, Heather, Rob, and Janet, all learned from their parents the importance of family, community, and work, all mixed in with big doses of teasing, fun, and laughter.

Throughout the years, Barb loved her time with her family and friends. She volunteered in her church as a Sunday School Teacher, Explorer Leader, and with the U.C.W. Princess Street Unit.  In addition to church, Barb volunteered in her community with the Lionettes. She enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, curling, cross-country skiing, sailing and camping. She continued her love of nature, especially flowers and birds, throughout her life. Many fun-filled afternoons were spent hiking trails or skiing with family and friends. She often spent New Year’s Day counting birds for the Audubon Society's Annual Bird Count.

Barb loved to walk, and she walked every day into her nineties until it was no longer safe for her to continue. Barb also loved to travel! What might have started as a break for her and Aubrey from a young, very lively family of five grew into trips to new places with family and friends, and later into visits to family as her children moved farther from home and had their own families.

Barb is survived by her five children and their spouses: Debi and Tom Fitzpatrick of Falmouth, Nova Scotia; Nancy Digdon and Mike Dawson of Edmonton, Alberta; Heather Digdon and Raymond Torres of Columbia, South Carolina; Robert and Cheryl Digdon of Frederiction, New Brunswick; and Janet and Gordie Noye of St. Catherines, Prince Edward Island. She is also survived by her treasured grandchildren: Melissa Fitzpatrick (Trevor), Andrew Fitzpatrick (Danijela), Michele Belton (Adam), Chris Dawson (Amy), Sarah Noye, Robin Noye, Maddie Wallick (Jake), Anna Torres, William Digdon, and Avery Digdon; along with her treasured great-grandchildren: Delaney Fitzatrick-Coffill, Scarlett Fitzpatrick, Harry Van Bergen, Annabelle Fitzpatrick, Anna Belton, Aubrey Dawson and Wren Dawson. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Susan Collins, Richard Crompton, Wayne Pelly, Emery Groen, Jean Kakaty, Blaise Groen, and George Groen, all of whom were extremely important to her.

Barb is predeceased by: Aubrey, her husband of 49 years; her sisters Frances Crompton MacCain and Rev. Helene Manning; her granddaughter Erin Noye; her nephew Barry Pelley; her niece Hilda Huehmer; her brothers-in-law Carl Crompton, Fred MacCain, Emery Digdon, Clayton Digdon, Russel Pelley, Palmer Groen; and her sisters-in-law Hilda Groen, Ruby Pelley and Agatha Digdon.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Mayflower Meadows and the Gladys Manning Memorial Home for their care and compassion shown to our mother.

Visitation was held at Adam’s Funeral Home Ltd. on Wednesday, April 15, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A funeral service was held at St. Andrews United Church, 188 Wellington Street, Miramichi, on Thursday, April 16, at 2:00 p.m., with the Reverend Charlene Maguire MacKnight as officiant. Music for the service was provided by Lois McKinnon (organist) and the St. Andrew's United Church Choir, as well as Harold Noye (guitarist) and Marnie Noye (soloist/bass fiddler).  The Hymns included "Morning Has Broken", "In the Garden", "Far Side Banks of Jordan", with the recessional being "On Eagle's Wings".  Lighting of the Memory Candle was by Melissa Fitzpatrick and Delaney Fizpatrick-Coffill.  Family remembrances were by Janet Noye, Heather Digdon, and Debi Fitzpatrick.  Scripture readings were by Maddie Wallick, Cheryl Digdon, and Danijela Fitzpatrick.  A special poem was read by William Digdon.  The Active Pallbearers were Robert Digdon, Gordie Noye, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Avery Digdon, Tom Fitzpatrick, Raymond Torres, William Digdon, and Richard Crompton.  The Honorary Pallbearers were Mike Dawson, Trevor Coffill, Jake Wallick, Eugene Schofield, Chris Dawson, Adam Belton, Brooks Crompton, Brian Worrell, and Dale Worrell.  A reception for all was held in the church hall following the service.  Interment will be held at the Riverside Cemetery, Miramichi, New Brunswick, at a later date.

As expressions of sympathy, donations to the IWK Health Centre or St. Andrew’s United Church would be appreciated by the family.

Link for the Livestream https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=ff76b5c6-6453-4d1c-82fd-fe497f509909
 

Arrangements were entrusted to Adams Funeral Home Ltd., 140 King Street, Miramichi, New Brunswick, E1N 2N9, telephone (506) 773-3492. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.adamsfh.ca

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