Margaret Joan Mayo

MAYO, Margaret “Joan” - born in Chapleau, Ontario, the third daughter of Florence Fitzpatrick and Simon Kruger. She is pre-deceased by sisters Rita, Lucretia and Helen. Joan attended Sacred Heart Elementary school and Chapleau High School. Joan took tap dance and violin lessons with her younger sister Helen with whom she performed with her sister Helen on stage at the church hall. She also enjoyed skiing (No tows meant they had to climb up the hills) and skating - always in boys skates. She remained a capable skater well into her 80's.

Joan attended the University of Toronto and trained as a physiotherapist. While in Toronto she lived at St Michael’s College. She thoroughly enjoyed her time there as well as the lasting friendships. Joan enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Special Branch Officer in the medical service. She served in Navy hospitals in Halifax, Sydney, and Esquimalt as well as at Eaton Hall in King, Ontario, a wartime convalescent facility for the Armed Forces.

It was during her time in the Navy that she met her future husband, Mark Mayo, a young sub-lieutenant from Renforth, NB. When Mark was posted to England in 1946 they were married in Halifax and the honeymoon was spent crossing the Atlantic. They welcomed each of their four daughters with great joy. Joan ran an efficient and tidy home and often managed the care of small children single-handedly while Mark was at sea for as long as a year.

She kept a close eye on the school progress of her girls and was chief editor for written assignments as well as a patient listener for oral presentations. Her words of advice were always key to improving their performance.

As a naval couple Joan and Mark had nine postings over Mark’s 35-year career. Their residences included England, Halifax, Ottawa, Victoria and Brussels.

Joan was an active parishioner at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Halifax. She was a lay reader, choir and altar society member. She was a member of the Catholic Women’s League, Catholic Civil Rights League and Real Women of Canada. She was also a sponsor for catechumens. For as long as she could drive Joan attended daily mass. Her deep and profound faith was central to her day to day life and shaped her influence as a parent and grandparent.

Joan walked daily and tended her many flower gardens and delighted in cutting and arranging flowers indoors. She had a definite knack for making colourful and beautifully balanced arrangements. A keen bridge and euchre player, Joan played with friends of long acquaintance. A generous host, she made every guest feel like a warmly welcomed visiting dignitary.

Following Mark’s death in November 2011 Joan resided at Evan Hall, where she embraced the weekday masses and cheerful sing-alongs. Her sense of style, self-effacing humour and quick wit never faltered. Joan kept in touch daily with her four daughters and was always eager for news. She passed away suddenly on April 26 in hospital.

Joan is survived by four daughters: Rosemary Tayler (nee Susan Mayo), Ottawa; Anne McKennirey (John), Carleton Place, Ont., Margaret Heard (Stephen) and Catherine Joan Woodman (Dara) both of Halifax. "Omy" will be sadly missed by 12 grandchildren, Kathleen Smith, Emma McKennirey, Brigid Crichton, Luke McKennirey, Clare McKennirey, John McKennirey, Hugh McKennirey, Meagan Heard, Alison Kelly, Liam Woodman, Maura Woodman, and Bernadette Joan Woodman. Her memory will be kept alive for her six great grandchildren: Gabriel, Olivia and Sophie Smith, Alastair and Marshall Crichton, and Cora Mennie.

Visitation is from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 1, at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax (455-0531). A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Purcell's Cove Road on Friday, May 2 at 1:30 pm. Interment will be on May 21 at 12:30 pm at Beechwood, the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa. The family thanks staff at Evan Hall. Donations may be made to Campaign Life Coalition, Real Women of Canada, and the Alzheimer's Society of Nova Scotia.