Joanne Irene Cecilia Carruthers

Joanne is survived by her children and their spouses: Clyde and Lindsey Carruthers of Victoria, Kate and Mark Whitehall of Cambridge, Joanne and Greg Kealey of Guelph, Vince and Nancy Carruthers and Connie and Bob Pethick, of Cambridge. Joanne was a loving and involved Grandma to her 14 grandchildren and their partners, and her 7 great grandchildren: Patrick Wolstenholme and Briana Horner and daughters Ivy, Hazel and Margaret; Alexandra Carruthers and Brent Bellamy; Ron Whitehall and Stacey Barrett; Renée Wolstenholme and Mike Demosthenous and daughter Camille; Adrienne Carruthers and son Dion; Sheila Whitehall and Kyler Breton; Tom and Nicole Carruthers and daughters Charlotte and Madeleine; Katie Pethick and Dave Deckert; Dan Carruthers and Heather McLean; Sarah Pethick and James Whelan; Geneviève Carruthers; Paul Kealey and Dasha Reddy; Eric Pethick; Sylvie Carruthers and Graham Kelly. All the grandkids called Joanne ”G-ma”. She followed their education, adventures, careers and relationships with great interest.

Joanne is predeceased by her husband Larry and his brothers Vince, Phil, George, Bill and his sisters Helen Fowler, Laureen Creighton, Marie Hargreaves and their spouses. She is predeceased by her sisters Adrienne McKeever and Faye Lamandre, brother in law Bernie McKeever and her great granddaughter Audrey Carruthers. Joanne will be missed by her brother in law Sal Lamandre and many nieces and nephews.

Joanne’s early life was difficult but she and her sisters had great fun together. Living in London, Ontario, Jo and Larry were high school sweethearts and then had a wonderful marriage for 52 years. They left London for Cambridge in 1969. Together they served as volunteers at their parishes in London and Cambridge and at Camp Kumuntome. Joanne was also devoted to the cause of the unborn and volunteered with the Cambridge Right to Life. She treasured her friendships with neighbours, the ladies at church, the folks at Right to Life, the support group at the Alzheimer Society and the terrific people at Camp Kumuntome. She loved to laugh. Her memory was legendary and she was a great story teller. She was sensible, respectful and inclusive.

Her family would like to express appreciation to the staff at Marian Residence where Joanne lived since 2016.

Friends are welcome at the T. Little and Son Funeral Home at 223 Main St. in Cambridge on Wednesday February 8, for a visitation from 6-8pm.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Ambrose Church at 210 South Street, Cambridge on Thursday February 9 at 10am. A lunch reception will follow mass at the South Waterloo Naval Veterans Association at 30 Cambridge Street, Cambridge. All welcome.

Burial will follow at 2:30pm at St. Peter’s Cemetery, London.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Camp Kumuntome, the Alzheimer Society or the Cambridge Right to Life.