Gloria Valencia Baharally, née Singh, a proud daughter of Georgetown, passed away peacefully at her home in Calgary, Alberta, on February 12, 2026. She was 87. She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 65 years, Ivan “Dickie” Baharally, with whom she built a life grounded in family, resilience, and quiet determination.
Born on April 8, 1938, in Georgetown, British Guiana, Gloria was the daughter of the late Manoo Singh and Julie Baddeir. In 1972, she made the life-changing decision to leave her homeland and immigrate to Canada with her five children, joining her husband in Calgary and beginning a new chapter for the family. That move, like so many made by Guyanese families of her generation, was rooted in sacrifice, courage, and an unshakable belief in the future.
Gloria was known for her independence, her strong will, and her unmistakable personal style. She spoke her mind and lived on her own terms, qualities that were sometimes sharp but always honest. Those who knew her respected that strength and admired the way she carried herself through life. To her family, she was a steady presence, a matriarch who held generations together with discipline, humour, and love.
She embraced life’s small pleasures. Trips to the casino were among her favorite outings, often shared with her grandson Nicholas, her son Norbert, her daughter Deborah, and son-in-law Robert. She enjoyed her rum and coke, especially when celebrating birthdays with her son-in-law Carl, who shared the same special day. Her daughter Dawn often took her on drives in the beloved “Lil Red Truck,” while her eldest daughter, Mary Margaret, kept her in line and made sure her hair was always just right. After the passing of her husband, her son Ivan, his wife Cheryl, and their puppy Ivy cared for her with devotion.
Gloria leaves to cherish her memory her five children: Donna (Carl), Ivan (Cheryl), Deborah (Robert), Norbert (Charlene), and Dawn. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren: Christina; Joshua (Heather); Jennifer (Cam); Celina (Sean); Rebecca (Isaac); Matthew (Stephany); Mikayla (Jermaine); Alicia (Nick); and Nicholas (Marlee). Her legacy continues through her fourteen great-grandchildren: Asia; Claudia and Lazarus; Zach and Katie Beth; Daniel and Patrick; Gabriel, Gloria, and Grace; Dante, Carter, and Theo; and Coleson.
She is also survived by her brother, John (Ivelaw) Baddeir, and his wife Hilda; her cousins Beverly, Dian, and Desiree; and many nieces and nephews across Canada, Guyana, and the wider diaspora.
Gloria’s life was shaped by migration, motherhood, and the quiet endurance that defined so many Guyanese women of her generation. She raised a large family in a new country, kept her cultural roots alive, and built a home that stretched across borders and decades. Her voice, her rules, and her style will live on through the generations she helped shape.
Visitation will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Eastside), 5388 Memorial Drive NE, Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 a.m., with a graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery and a reception at the Church of the Good Shepherd.
In her memory, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, a living tribute to a life that spanned continents and generations.
Even across oceans and years, the mark of a Guyanese matriarch never really fades. It just settles into the bones of the family and waits for the next story to be told.
