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91ƵShe loved to feed people91Ƶ: Beloved Kelowna restaurant owner remembered

The remaining food from Barb Dumbovic91Ƶs restaurant was given to the public on Saturday, Dec. 9
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The remaining food from Barb Dumbovic91Ƶs restaurant Barb91Ƶs Delights was given away to the public on Saturday, Dec. 9 as many paid their respects and told stories about their interactions with Barb. (GoFundMe)

91ƵShe was really well-loved by the entire community.91Ƶ

That91Ƶs the sentiment John Dumbovic echoed on Saturday, Dec. 9 as he gave away the remaining food from his mom91Ƶs restaurant.

His mom, Barb Dumbovic, owner of the restaurant Barb91Ƶs Delights, died suddenly in late November.

On Saturday, Dumbovic was taken aback by the amount of people that showed up to the restaurant.

91ƵI was surprised, I91Ƶm still surprised how many people love her and how she91Ƶs touched so many people91Ƶs hearts,91Ƶ said Dumbovic. 91ƵI91Ƶm really glad I could do what she would91Ƶve done.91Ƶ

After moving to Kelowna in 1994, Barb started selling her famous perogies out of the trunk of her car. She eventually upgraded to a van, and then a food truck, and was able to open her restaurant at 2789 Highway 97 N in 2010.

Many of the people that came to the restaurant told stories about Barb and their interactions with her.

91ƵI love hearing stories about my mom,91Ƶ said Dumbovic. 91ƵLike I said, I91Ƶm surprised how many people she touched and how many people thought she was an amazing lady.91Ƶ

All the food was gone in the matter of a couple hours on Saturday but John said they kept enough perogies and cabbage rolls for his mom91Ƶs service 91Ƶin order to give her one last taste of Barb91Ƶs Delights.91Ƶ

Dumbovic added he doesn91Ƶt know yet when the service for his mom will be held.

As for the store, it will eventually be for sale, Dumbovic added.

Dumbovic also said Barb91Ƶs death was 91Ƶa complete surprise, a punch in the face. There were so signs, it just happened.91Ƶ

Shortly after Barb91Ƶs death, John set up a with the goal of $5,000 to cover the cost of his mom91Ƶs funeral expenses. As of Saturday, Dec. 9, $8,293 has been raised.

91ƵShe loved to feed people,91Ƶ said Dumbovic. 91ƵEverybody91Ƶs grieving, how do you have a whole city grieving? That91Ƶs the kind of impact she had, when a whole city is grieving for her loss.91Ƶ

READ MORE: Owner of Barb91Ƶs Delights in Kelowna has died

READ MORE: Crash claims life of TRU athlete, puts 2 Kelowna teammates in critical care



Jordy Cunningham

About the Author: Jordy Cunningham

Hailing from Ladner, B.C., I have been passionate about sports, especially baseball, since I was young. In 2018, I graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree
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