Barbara Ellen (née Pritchard) Illingworth
February 7, 2026
ILLINGWORTH, Barbara Ellen (née Pritchard) – Passed away at the Louise Marshall Hospital on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the age of 75.
Barbara’s life was a journey of extraordinary accomplishments. Her singing brought her to the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in her youth, and to Carnegie Hall in later life. She performed in dozens of professional and amateur theatrical productions. She had two careers in which she excelled: first as a home economist, and later as an English and drama teacher at the Mount Forest High School until her retirement. She travelled the world, from Seoul to St. Petersburg. Her secret was to pour her heart and soul into everything she did.
Barbara was born on November 15, 1950 in Toronto, the oldest daughter of Jack and Evelyn Pritchard. From a young age, Barbara had a passion for the arts, dancing alongside her sister, Patricia (Peter McKinnon). Her love of literature would build a library that never stopped expanding. While attending Emery Collegiate High School, Barbara caught the acting bug, which she never lost. It was also there that she met Peter, the love of her life and husband of 51 years.
Barbara and Peter moved to the Mount Forest area in 1975 to start a family, building their own house and farm outside Kenilworth, and later moving to town in 1989. In her children John (Lesley) and Sarah (Thomas), Barbara instilled her own great sense of curiosity and joy for life, and she took pleasure in fostering those qualities in her beloved grandchildren: Ben, Brynn, Kennedy, Madison, Mairead, Bronwyn, and Mackenzie.
Barbara’s years of teaching at Mount Forest and Wellington Heights gave her an extended family she cared for deeply. She loved following her former students’ successes and kept in touch with many. Barbara was devoted to giving students the opportunity to experience the thrill of “putting on a show” and she spent countless hours in rehearsals, building sets and making costumes, with the sole purpose of creating a little magic. Indeed, her greatest success was to teach those she loved what she knew from the very start: that “the world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper”.
Visitation will be held at the England Funeral Home, 294 Main Street South, Mount Forest on Thursday, February 12th from 2:00-4:00 & 6:00-8:00 p.m. A private interment will be held at Highland Memory Gardens, North York.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Barbara to the Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation. Online condolences and donations may be made at www.englandfuneralhome.com
Condolences
Pete and family.
Sorry to here of Barbara's passing, we knew each other from Melody Road P.S. She was a friend to many. At times like this memories return of those days long gone. You on the football team and Barbara on the Cheerleading team. Emery provided an opportunity for many us to try new adventures in life. Many of us never knew the upticks in our fellow students lives after Emery.... and Barbara's passing provides another perfect example. It is unfortunate we learn so much from obituaries that follow. She was a very accomplished woman. Hoping the memories of her talents and character will be a blessing for you, the children and grandchildren.
To Barb’s family and friends, my condolences on the loss of someone very special to you. Being a friend of Pat all through elementary and secondary school, I knew Barb as the calm and knowledgeable big sister. I admired her then, and now after reading these tributes, I see she continued to impress and influence many, many people. I’m glad she was there for you.
Dianne Allen
So sorry to hear this news. My condolences to Pete and the family.
Barb played my daughter in Bye Bye Birdie at Emery when we were in grade 13 and I had a short term crush on her then. After graduation from Emery our professional paths never crossed, although I now realized that our lives had many parallels; We were both high school teachers and both involved with school theater.
The world is a much different place now to what it was in 1969 when we both graduated from Emery; I am quite certain that thanks to teachers like Barb, some of those difference were for the better.
Rest in peace my old friend. Love.
So sorry to hear of Barbara's passing. I was good friends with Pete while at Emery. Our heart felt condolences to Pete, his family, and friends. R.I.P. Barb.Dave and Sharon Martin.
— Dave and Sharon Martin, February 18, 2026Sad to hear about Barb's passing. We grew up on the same street, same elementary and high schools. One of the many 1950 born kids in the neighborhood. I'll always remember Barb as a smiling and happy child and teenager and cheering on my fellow football teammates and of course her future husband and wonderful guy, Pete. I'm confident she was a blessing and a joy to her family and friends as an adult as well.
— Steve Farrant, February 18, 2026Pete,
Please accept our sincere condolences for your loss.
My memories of Barb from high school are all special.
Our deep sympathies to you, your children and grandchildren.
Michael and Irene Beaupre
Ron and I are so sorry to hear of Barbara’s passing.i first met Barb at Melody Road P.S. I was a new student in the second semester of Grade 8. I will never forget Barb coming up to me at noon hour, introducing herself to me and walking home with me. It meant so much. We attended the same Church and my First Communion was Christmas Day, my family wasn’t in attendance and Barb told me she would come out of the Choir to join me. Her support was so appreciated. In Highschool at Emery, she was in our school plays and cheerleading. I remember when she met Peter.
Ron and I send our heartfelt condolences to Peter and family. Barbara and Ron Ivany
Dear Pete and family,
I am shocked and saddened to hear of Barb’s death. As you know we had a pretty tight group of friends through elementary and secondary school, our tribe. We share many theatre productions with Doris Manetta and co, sports occasions cheering for you and others and school dances . I appreciated hearing of Barb’s professional career as I had lost track of that. We taught the same subjects and loves. Please know I will always hold fond memories of our early lives together. Our Mum’s were good pals as well . You have my deepest sympathies. I am privileged to have had her as a friend.
Dear Peter, John and Sarah - I am deeply sorry for your loss. Barb gave so much to her students and the school and has left an incredible legacy in Mount Forest and around the world. I loved checking in with her when I started my teaching career and reassuring her that Shakespeare was still being taught with love and care. I especially remember her planning school plays that were best suited for those of us who were taking the stage - and roping in Peter to help with set designs and backstage. God bless, Eric Jeffery
— Eric Jeffery, February 15, 2026To the Illingworth family,
I'm very sorry to hear of the passing of Barb. I have a lot of fond memories of her as my teacher in high school and as a director and fellow actor in theatre.
My condolences to all of you.
Rest in peace, Barb.
Shannon and I were both fortunate to have had Barb as a teacher at MFDHS. She was able to see potential and bring it to the surface. My husband Shannon found her to be one of the strongest influences in his life. She always believed he could accomplish whatever he aspired to!
Our heartfelt condolences to the Illingworth family.
Dear Peter and the whole Illingworth/Pritchard family,
I had the great honour of having Barb as a drama teacher, director, mentor, and friend during my high-school career, and for a while after as well. I remember her passion for the arts, the English language, her ability to motivate people to perform to the best of their abilities, and her exceptionally high expectations for and belief in her students. I can still remember a conversation I had with her in my final year during a rehearsal for The Diary of Anne Frank where she explained her vision for my university career - from the double major down to the dorm, choir, and extra curriculars I would be involved in! I can still remember the look she gave me when I broke the news to her that I had chosen a different path than the one she laid out for me, but I like to think that she would be proud of how far I have come, grown, and changed in the past 15 years. I can still here her voice directing and providing dramatic instruction every time I give a presentation, teach, lecture, or help with a community drama production. As I'm sure you are aware, Illy was deeply talented, respected, and loved, and will be deeply missed by more than just this former student.
I am saddened to hear of Barbara's passing.
The Pritchard family were next door neighbours to my family on Yorkdale Crescent in North York through the '50's, '60's, '70's and into the 1980's.
I have many fond memories of Barbara and her sister Patricia as neighbours during those early years.
Sending my sincerest condolences.
Jim Pincoe
Dear Peter and family,
So very sorry for your loss.
Cousin Barb will always be remembered as a favourite, always welcoming with a big smile and loving hug during our early year visits at the lake.
Our sincere condolences to you all.
Hugh and Nancy Critchley
The arts would die in rural places like Mount Forest without people like Illy. In many ways, she changed my life for the better. She believed in me a hell of a lot, and allowed me opportunities to direct, act, and even create new classes to study philosophy, musical theatre and enrich my mind.
I’d be lying if I said every interaction was sunshine and rainbows — illy was brilliant, and fiercely opinionated. I think she liked me because she saw herself in me. We’d argue for hours and hours all the time about creative choices, me slacking off, differences in opinions or philosophies, and sometimes I think we really pissed eachother off. But I think we’d both come back and realize the other person actually had a really good point. Theres value in having perspective even if it’s unpopular.
I have never stopped pursuing the arts and she took a chance on me to really try and rise to many different occasions. Even to this day, in my head every time I’m writing, acting or directing I find myself sort of “fighting” Illy in my head. Sometimes my ideas were really bad and she’d call me out. Sometimes she’d hate what I was doing but let me do it anyway, and sometimes it’d work out good. I think those moments drove her nuts, but made her really proud.
Basically, illy was a unique person and I don’t think her soul or impact could leave me if I spent my entire life trying to get expel her from me. Im lucky I had a such an amazing, complicated mentor. We laughed so much with stupid jokes and ideas, and always had amazing extremely deep philosophical debates. She really is one of one, and I’m so lucky to have ended up in her sphere.
We didn’t end on great terms, and had a big silly argument (I was probably being an arrogant jerk!) that was unfortunate and never talked again but if I ever win an Oscar she’s one of the people getting thanked. I think she’ll still get a kick out of that, and probably hate the movie I made but watch it now and then anyway.
Illy fought for the arts in our town and school relentlessly. I got to see the inside baseball of it — she was a rare person who was willing to appear like “the bad guy” at times to make the outcome for students and the arts better. She was fierce and brave and I genuinely don’t think there’s a chance me and my lovely artsy squad have an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the arts without her. I think that is one of the most honourable qualities a person can have — being a fighter. She genuinely put her community and work above her own ego and reputation. She would “work heel”, be sneaky, tricky, whatever needed to be done to make sure kids in our hick farmer town had an outlet to dream bigger, see the beauty in art and philosophy. I’ve based a lot of my own values on that dedication.
I’m so gutted by this news, but not many people get the chance to build gardens that shape so many people’s lives. Mrs Illingworth did that for me and many of the people i treasure the most. I’ll never forget her, and I know for a fact many others won’t either.
I am so saddened to learn about the loss of my high school teacher and friend, Barb Illingworth (Illy). During high school, Illy went out of her way to provide opportunities to students, whether it was planning international trips at affordable rates, dedicating countless hours to our school musicals and plays, sitting in on after-school clubs that needed a chaperone, setting up for assemblies, tutoring students in that wanted extra help (even if they weren’t in her class), and so much more. Mrs. Illingworth always had high expectations from her students and her peers, and the older I get, the more I appreciate her outlook on life. Mrs. Illingworth took her responsibility for setting an example for her students very seriously. Many times I felt that Mrs. Illingworth saw more in me than I did. She often encouraged me to audition for bigger roles, to put myself in leadership positions in school, or she would just volunteer me for jobs that I didn’t know I was capable of. Her belief in me has left me with a wealth of experience and precious memories. Mrs. Illingworth was one of the most interesting people to talk to. Years back, we went to the theatre in Stratford. She showed me the ins and outs of the theatre- tricks on getting the best seats for the best prices, told me the inside jokes in the Shakespearian play we were watching, and explained the significance of all of the small details of the theatre, down to the plants chosen in the gardens. She was always a teacher at heart. Illy always thought of others, and even brought some freshly baked gluten free cookies for me to enjoy at the theatre.
From walking the halls in WHSS to walking the streets of Paris, Illy always made every experience a memorable one. I’m really going to miss her infectious smile.
I cannot express how appreciative I am to have met Mrs. Illingworth and to have had the chance to learn and grow from her influence. Love you Illy. ❤️
Ashley Ferraro-Carroll
I'm so sorry to hear of Barbara's death. We were very lucky to have met her through Sarah and got to enjoy her excellent hospitality during a visit to Mount Forest. She will truly be missed but so fondly remembered. Please accept our deepest condolences for your whole family during this time.
Love from the Longaphy's
We sang with Barb at Carnegie Hall and lined up for cheap tickets for the theatre. According to the ticket seller, when we asked what show was cheap, he replied everyone in the line was cheap. We had many laughs about this. My condolences.
Our deepest sympathies to Peter and family. Barb was a wonderful friend and neighbour. We will miss her dearly. God Bless 🙏🕊️
Dave & Susan Guilbault
John and family,
Our deepest condolences to you and your family. Wishing you strength and comfort in the days ahead.
Sending all the love and strength through this difficult time. I hope your memories keep you comfort.
I’ll always remember playing as little girls with your mom in fond memories.
So saddened to hear of Mrs. Illingworth’s passing. Barb was one of the most important teachers I had growing up in Mount Forest. During a particularly challenging time in high school, she really 'saw' me and met me with genuine care and compassion. She believed in me and nurtured my love of English and the arts in ways that have stayed with me ever since. In many ways, I feel that it is because of Barbara Illingworth that I went on to complete a PhD in Theatre and Performance.
I will always be grateful for her encouragement and her steady, caring, generous presence. May she rest in peace. ❤️
So sorry to hear of Barbs passing. Our thoughts are with you Peter.
— Ken and Jo-Anne Greene, February 11, 2026I echo here what so many have already written about Barb. She was a mentor, friend and confident to me in so many ways. I'm still a teacher today due to a lot of her teachings and guidance. She taught me that silence can actually be the most powerful tool. While few would say I'm a quiet kind of person, it was Barb who taught me to use my voice in both ways as I do today. She was there for me and supported me through a whole host of events, as she was for so many - both students and staff. She is truly missed and I can promise her legacy lives on, as just yesterday I read from an assignment she created, and from her notes. She'll never be forgotten here at WHSS and her teachings live on in so many of this community of Mount Forest and beyond.
Dan and Julie Wick send our are condolences .
Sending sincere and heartfelt condolences to Peter and family; Barb was my HoD when I taught English and Drama at WHSS. She was brilliant and funny and very human, and she expected the best from staff and students alike. She had the kind of standards that we agreed on: responsibility, accountability, and encouraging curiosity to expand the minds and experiences of our learners. She was one of a kind, and we will not see her like again, I fear. She encouraged my crazy determination to set the bar very high in my career, and I loved her for it. I hadn't seen her in some time, but as Stephen King famously wrote in a novella we laughed about together: "I know I will miss [her] forever." Safe journey onwards, Barb - "May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." [Hamlet V, ii]
— Heather, February 10, 2026Mrs. Illingworth had a profound impact on my life. I had the pleasure of taking many of her classes and being in several plays she directed throughout high school. Her passion for learning was infectious and she did so much to encourage my own curiosity and love of literature. She did not shy away from challenging me to do my best work but she was also always there with support, encouragement and guidance when I needed it. I will forever be grateful for having had her in my life and I know that I am a much better person because I did.
— Tyson Burke, February 10, 2026How fortunate we were to have such a gifted teacher who made it possible for this area to experience "the arts" in so many ways. It was a joy to see her pleasure when students did their best whether on the stage, in the classroom or in dealing with the challenges of everyday. She took the time to write notes of encouragement on assignments - her remarks made a difference. We give thanks for the creativity and care Barb, "Mrs. Illingworth," gave so freely. Our sympathy to her family.
The Holliday Family
Ms Illingworth had such an impact on me as a teacher, and as a friend after I graduated. I was so grateful for her generosity, offering me her time and knowledge so I could complete an independent study Philosophy unit (I’m sorry I lied about reading Sophie’s World). She was an understanding ear, had a fabulous artistic eye, and shared her wisdom with honesty—she truly helped shape the way I observe the world. Thinking of you and your family. ❤️
— Michelle Payne, February 10, 2026Dear Sarah and family,
What a beautiful tribute to your mom. She was clearly a special woman with a huge impact on so many. I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and everyone who loved her as you grieve her loss and celebrate her life.
Sarah,
I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. Extending my deepest sympathies to you and the rest of your family as you all grieve this loss. May the good memories bring you joy.
Barb was a wonderful help when I was Chairman of the Mount Forest Lions Club Effective Speaking Contest for many years. She always encouraged her students to enter the contest and guided them with their speeches. She certainly had the students interest at heart.
— Dennis MacDonald, February 10, 2026A brilliant, generous teacher and person. She truly did enrich the high school years of myself and so many others. I'll always carry the fondest of memories of her classes, her plays, and her. My sincerest condolences to her entire family. Thank you, Mrs. Illingworth.
— Alex Payne, February 10, 2026Dear Peter, John, Sarah and families,
My deepest condolences to all of you. I feel privileged to have known and worked alongside such an extraordinary person. I mourn Barb’s passing with you.
I had the privilege of having Ms. Illingworth as my Grade 12 English teacher at WHSS and wanted to voice my condolences. I only had her for the one class but my friends spent more time with her during the planning of the play Bye Bye Birdie. Often times as a high school student there is a seperation between the student and teacher but reading about her life within these few paragraphs let me see her in a new light. She traveled to Seoul? Wow. What a wonderful life she must had with so many stories. Sending love to all of her close family members and friends.
— Shania Dirstein, February 9, 2026Mrs I was my favorite teacher at Wellington heights secondary high school in mount forest I was one of her favorite students in her music and art class she was a very kind teacher Mrs I will be deeply missed by Me Mandy Hunter
My deepest condolences to Mrs. Illingworth’s family and friends.
I was fortunate to have been her student at Wellington Heights. She was an incredibly devoted and passionate educator, going above and beyond to open my mind to worlds of politics, philosophy and art that changed my life. I will be forever grateful for her wisdom, guidance, and friendship in those formative years.
- Scott Cherry
What an appropriately beautiful and detailed obituary for my amazing friend and mentor. Magic indeed.
She (and of course you too Peter) played so many roles in my life and in the lives of my children. She was a woman of high standards and endless generosity. I will forever be grateful for her friendship.
My heart aches for you all. She was a force.
My sincere condolences to Barb’s family and friends. I was lucky to teach with her at MFDHS and WHSS for many years. I enjoyed chatting with her about books, theatre and life…she was always there if you needed to talk. She will be missed!
Dear Peter, John, Sarah and families,
My condolences to each and everyone of you. I was honoured that Barb was my matron of honour when I married Rob. And even after losing a shoe at my wedding, she still remained a close friend.
You are in my thoughts and prayers, Janet Saunders
Peter, Sarah, John and families.
Please know how much our thoughts are with you.
We’re so fortunate to have had Barb in our lives in so many capacities - as a PPS and NDSS French Immersion mom in the 80s and 90s, in Diary of Ann Frank at the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild in the mid 90s, as a colleague at the old MFDHS then WHSS, and as a generous gifter of books, bread and love to our kids.
In addition, Adam was so lucky to have had Barb as a mentor (and work mom). He loved working in Guidance along side Barb and producing several of her school shows.
The gifts Barb shared with us will live within our hearts and minds for a lifetime.
Dear Peter and family,
So sorry for your loss. Barb was a wonderful friend and teacher. She will be truly missed.
Love Nancy ❤️
My sympathies John and Sarah, I enjoyed a friendship with your Mom thru St. Paul's Anglican Church whether teaching Sunday school together or in the choir. She also sang at our wedding. Her voice always mesmerized me. Blessings to your families.
— Diana Koehler, February 9, 2026Barb was a mentor to me as I taught with her for years; she was knowledge filled, kind, helpful, and full of joy. My condolences Peter, and family. Blessings to you all.
— Neal Carriere, February 9, 2026Dear John, Sarah, and family,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of your mother. May your cherished memories bring you comfort during this difficult time.
Stephanie Mills