Barbara Brouse died on February 23, 2005, at age 73, of a massive heart attack after struggling with health issues for months.
During those months, she fought with all her strength to complete her life’s work, seeking to finish and publish her memoirs of her traumatic childhood.
Born in India, she was schooled in Ireland and at Bishop Strachan School and University of Toronto (Victoria College), she was later a copy editor for Simpson’s department store and a creative force in the advertising company she ran with her husband.
In the seventies, Barbara took up a second career as romance novelist (Harlequin, Silhouette) and, with more than a dozen titles (under the pen names of Abra Taylor and Araby Scott) she supported her family. She was hand-picked to write Harlequin's first ever "Super Romance," the company's successful foray into longer (and steamier) titles.
Her essence was unconditional love and generosity. She is still missed daily by her children Andrew, Gillian, Susan, and Terance.
On her death, tributes to Barbara's remarkable life were published in The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
Born in India under British rule, Barbara became a celebrated romance novelist. She discovered her life’s purpose in her final years: to tell the story of the Indian servants who saved her life. 
