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㽶ƵֱShe loved to feed people㽶Ƶֱ: Beloved Kelowna restaurant owner remembered

The remaining food from Barb Dumbovic㽶Ƶֱs restaurant was given to the public on Saturday, Dec. 9
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The remaining food from Barb Dumbovic㽶Ƶֱs restaurant Barb㽶Ƶֱs 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)

㽶ƵֱShe was really well-loved by the entire community.㽶Ƶֱ

That㽶Ƶֱs the sentiment John Dumbovic echoed on Saturday, Dec. 9 as he gave away the remaining food from his mom㽶Ƶֱs restaurant.

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

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

㽶ƵֱI was surprised, I㽶Ƶֱm still surprised how many people love her and how she㽶Ƶֱs touched so many people㽶Ƶֱs hearts,㽶Ƶֱ said Dumbovic. 㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm really glad I could do what she would㽶Ƶֱve done.㽶Ƶֱ

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.

㽶ƵֱI love hearing stories about my mom,㽶Ƶֱ said Dumbovic. 㽶ƵֱLike I said, I㽶Ƶֱm surprised how many people she touched and how many people thought she was an amazing lady.㽶Ƶֱ

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 mom㽶Ƶֱs service 㽶Ƶֱin order to give her one last taste of Barb㽶Ƶֱs Delights.㽶Ƶֱ

Dumbovic added he doesn㽶Ƶֱt 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 Barb㽶Ƶֱs death was 㽶Ƶֱa complete surprise, a punch in the face. There were so signs, it just happened.㽶Ƶֱ

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

㽶ƵֱShe loved to feed people,㽶Ƶֱ said Dumbovic. 㽶ƵֱEverybody㽶Ƶֱs grieving, how do you have a whole city grieving? That㽶Ƶֱs the kind of impact she had, when a whole city is grieving for her loss.㽶Ƶֱ

READ MORE: Owner of Barb㽶Ƶֱs 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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