Mrs. Jill Elizabeth Bhar

August 29, 1938 - February 3, 2022

On February 3, 2022, Jill Bhar (nee Merry) of High River, passed away at the age of 83 at Foothills Medical Centre. She is survived by daughters Liz (Marcelo) Soria, and Jane (Dean) Iannacone, son Rod Bhar (Allison Hall), grandsons Joseph, Trevor, and Pedro, sisters Rosemary and Philippa (Peter), niece Danielle (Bobby), and nephew Laurence (Kelly). She was predeceased by her husband Peter. Jill was born in Chingford, London, England, in 1938 and turned one just days before the outbreak of WWII. Immediately after the war started, she was evacuated to the countryside and kept in a separate home from her mother for several long months. After that difficult start, she went on to have a happy childhood. She later took a job at British Oxygen where she met Peter Bhar who had immigrated from India and became the love of her life. They eloped to Scotland on a Vespa scooter in 1957. After a few years during which she started her own secretarial business and a family, they emigrated to Canada in 1968. Most of Jill’s life in Canada was spent in Ottawa where she worked for the federal government until she retired in 1998. Peter suffered a devastating stroke in 2002 and Jill took on the role of a loving caregiver for the final decade and more of his life. During that time, they moved to High River, Alberta in 2006, so that they could spend more time with their young grandsons. She happily remained there for the rest of her life. Jill loved visiting Frank Lake to see birds and feeling the sun on her face, taking drives in the mountains, challenging herself at Jeopardy and reading. She was a regular at the local pool. She had an active social life and had many dear friends, with whom she participated in the book club, Newcomers Club, Lunch Bunch and playing Mahjong. The pandemic was an isolating time for Jill, as it was for many others. It likely hastened the development of her Alzheimer’s Disease, which challenged her in her final year but never bowed her spirit, intelligence nor her sly sense of humour. She passed away unexpectedly but peacefully, surrounded by her three beloved children. Her three wishes: “I would wish for my family and everyone everywhere to live in peace and happiness. To appreciate and protect our beautiful planet and wish my family will always be close and not drift apart. I hope Liz, Rod, and Jane have healthy and happy lives. I wish for Joseph, Trevor, and Pedro to be safe and healthy, to live in peace, and create the life each one of them chooses. I wish that the climate changes to come will not be too difficult to adjust to. I hope all of you will realize and remember that you are so important to me and that I have always loved you and always will.” The family would like to thank the staff at Seasons Retirement Home in High River, and the medical staff at the Foothills Medical Centre Emergency and Trauma units. We would also like to thank Dr. Van Tonder, her GP, for her exemplary patient care. A virtual memorial will be held at a later date. For information and to register, please visit jillbhar.ca. Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.