Heather Jean Zaba

Passed away suddenly at the age of 69 years.  Daughter of the late Allan and Marion Zaba.  Much loved mother of Colleen, Cody, and Courtney Peters.  Dear sister of Leslie (Donna), John, Murray, Stephen (Donna), Marian, Edward, Allan, and the late Robert.  Heather will also be deeply missed and fondly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Heather had a true zest for life and a generous spirit.  She was dedicated to the Guiding movement for many years.  She had many talents within the arts, and was surprisingly good at pool.  She was an absolute sports enthusiast who loved all sports imaginable.  She was involved with baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, and cricket, and she proudly sponsored and supported numerous sports teams and community groups over the years.  She was even involved with starting one of the first travelling girls’ soccer teams in Barrie.

A lover of nature, Heather found joy in her garden, being especially proud of her rose bushes and lilacs. She found peace in knitting, creating thousands of hats and mittens which she donated to those in need.  Her compassion for others was unwavering, and she gave freely to homeless shelters and those less fortunate throughout her life.

Heather’s creativity shone through in many ways.  She loved music, sang in the choir at St. George’s Anglican Church in Barrie, and passed her love of music on to her children.  From being apart of the family that owned A&M Grocery, Heather took great pride in customer service, which was important to her throughout her lifetime.  She made sure seniors and local residents stayed informed by helping distribute community newspapers for many years.

Her volunteerism extended beyond her community, as she supported numerous charities and international programs that offered opportunities to people both in and out of Canada.  She delivered meals on wheels to seniors, was a volunteer for the Red Cross, as well was the current Treasurer for the Communities Connecting for Children (CCC), Board of Directors; as well as playing a crucial role in the development of the Matheson Creek Camp owned by CCC.

Through it all, Heather remained humble and kind, truly the matriarch of her family and loved by more people than she could ever know. When someone was ill, she was the first to call or come by. She never complained and always tried to help.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 22, 2025 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 147, located at 410 St. Vincent Street in Barrie, ON from 12:00pm until 5:00pm for people to drop-in and celebrate her life.
To honor Heather’s love for colour, the family kindly asks that you wear colourful attire to her celebration.

In the spirit of Heather’s generosity, those wanting to provide support are encouraged to make donations to any charities that support children, animals, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

There will be a livestream link available for those who are not able to attend in-person.

Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.peacefultransition.ca.