Joan Freda Hibbeln

With both love and sadness, we announce the passing of Joan Hibbeln. Joan was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother to her late husband Paul, her two children and their partners, Susan and Doug Woodliffe, David and Beth Hibbeln, and her grandson, Tallan.

Joan was born April 14th,1933, in Carleton Place, Ontario. She was born on Good Friday of that year and often teased her parents that her birth was extra special because of this coincidental date. Joan’s parents were Benjamin and Lilian May Hamilton. She had four brothers and sisters, Mildred, Lloyd, Roger, and Keith. Growing up during the depression was a challenge, but Joan’s stories of love, family, and living in a small town were both positive and entertaining. She was tall and athletic and excelled in many sports throughout her school years. After graduating from high school, Joan began her nursing training at the Kingston General Hospital and graduated in 1955. From there, she travelled across the country to New Westminster BC. She met and married her love, Paul Hibbeln, a handsome young man from Germany, who was working in Canada at the time. Joan and Paul raised their children in both British Columbia and Alberta. They spent most of their lives together in Edmonton, and after their children were old enough, Joan returned to nursing, doing a refresher course and spending 20 years nursing at the University Hospital.

Joan was a talented artist and excelled in sketching and watercolor. She was successful in any artistic endeavor she put her hand to. Joan was a precise seamstress and created beautiful outfits for her family. Joan loved to entertain. She and Paul had many wonderful parties in their home, which she catered herself. Mens sana in corpore sano was Joan’s motto. She read extensively, kept up with current events, attended many courses on weekends and in the evenings, covering different areas of learning, and always made sure that she ate well and kept physically active.

Joan was a beloved partner and parent, a person who loved her friends and family and an amazing human being. She will be sorely missed and will remain, with love, in our hearts.