Joan Marie White

Joan was born in Corner Brook, NFLD. At seventeen, she left home for Halifax where she became a nurse. In 1960 she met and married her husband, Gerard, and later moved to Labrador City where they started their family and Joan continued her nursing career. The family then moved to Ft. McMurray till Gerard retired and they retired to Camrose for several memorable years until Gerard took ill and Joan moved to Fort Saskatchewan to be near him and her family.

Joan loved life. Starting at an early age, Joan’s demonstrated a great love for music and singing. She sang with the Labrador City Community Choir, the Keyano Community Choir in Ft. McMurray, the Concordia Choir in Edmonton and finally the Ft. Saskatchewan Women’s Choir, BACH To POP till her passing.

Joan and her family enjoyed travelling and with them or by herself she visited many places throughout Canada, the USA and Europe; Vienna, Rome and Ireland being some of her most loved destinations. She would often reminisce about the beautiful music, art and scenery she had experienced and admired.

Joan loved her children and grandchildren, and it brought her great joy spending all the time she could with them while they grew up in Ft. McMurray and Ft. Saskatchewan. She was very social and loved to entertain, cook, shop and volunteer. She enjoyed sharing food with others and there was always room for one more around her crowded table, to enjoy her wonderful cooking. Joan had a great passion for helping others and volunteered her time with several community groups and foundations, including the Heart and Stroke and the Cancer Foundation, the Suncor Social Group and the Catholic Women’s League.

She had a great fondness for horses, birds and especially dogs, her dog Candy being her most cherished. She loved sports and loved watching her grandson take part in sports or cheering on the Oilers or Blue Jays to a win.

The family wishes to thank the Fort Saskatchewan Hospital and Rivercrest Hospice for the excellent care they gave Joan in her final days, as well as First Memorial Funeral Service. Many thanks to Joan’s loyal friends, Estelle, Margaret, Sharon, and Jennifer for their enduring friendships and for being there as companions till the end. She enjoyed the many visits from friends and family and relived many fond memories in her final days.

Joan is survived by her children, Sylvia (Randy) Nelson, Becky (Doug) Crowther; her grandson, Jacob Crowther (Kenzie); her sisters, Bonnie Klein, Debbie White, and Phyllis Hache; her brothers, Wayne, Perry and Joe Bennett; and her dear friends, Estelle Dubѐ, Margret Krug, Sharon Hart, and Jennifer Smadis and family.

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Gerard; her granddaughter, Hannah Crowther; sisters, Claudine Wall, Sylvia Wellon, Geraldine Delaney; and her brother, Don Bennett.

A Memorial Mass will be held on October 3 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Ft. Saskatchewan. In lieu of flowers, please make all donation to; The Cancer Society of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute, or charity of your choice.

Her warmth, kindness, love of life and legacy of love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.