Mrs. Beverley Joyce Beck Johnston

When Mrs. Beverley Joyce Johnston walked into the room, those in her company felt a palpable energy. This was just one of many qualities Beverley had and how she impacted those around her. She was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if she wanted to share in all of their experiences, revel in their lives, and celebrate their discoveries. Beverley was tireless and seemed to have a boundless enthusiasm that served her well throughout her life.

      Growing up for Beverley was like one big burst of spontaneity personified. She would join in with friends and family in just about anything. This made her life quite interesting and led to what would be a wide variety of memories. Beverley was born on July 31, 1928. She first greeted the world in Toronto, Ontario. Her parents were Edwin and Nellie. Beverley had a great sense of humour and was a natural entertainer, able to keep the people around her amused with stories and tales. While some who knew Beverley might have described her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that she was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities.

      Even as a young girl, Beverley was able to empathize and identify with many different kinds of people. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. She grew up with her cousin Bobby Dearlove and Aunty Mabel on Day Avenue in Toronto. Bev was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Beverly loved dancing, especially tap.

      During her high school years, Beverley responded enthusiastically to any new project and was normally in search of one adventure after another. She graduated from Northern High School in Toronto. She was a very good student, and generally did well in her courses. Beverley absorbed as much as she could from all of her teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems using her imagination to master her assignments. For her, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to her ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Beverley a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything.

       For Beverley, her life was just about as busy outside of high school as it was inside. With a talent for making friends easily, Beverley was very sociable and could blend without effort into any number of different social groups. Assertive and outgoing, she was easy to know and often demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. Some of her best friends during high school were Lorraine.

     Beverley was quite sensitive in all of her relationships. David Miller Lawrence Johnston discovered this firsthand.She exchanged vows with David on June 23, 1951 in Toronto,Ontario. Following the wedding, the couple enjoyed themselves on their honeymoon.

       Beverley's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. She was quite sensitive towards David's needs, showing her constant concern and fondness. Beverley was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family. During those first years together, she and David lived rather modestly.

       Throughout her life, Beverley was actively involved in professional and community organizations. Always able to build a consensus, she usually seemed to be the person in the middle of things, working to achieve goals. Those who had the opportunity to work with her usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with her, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine.

     She always seemed willing to join in and help, regularly getting involved in community activities. Her gifts of planning and improvisation, along with a talent for rallying support, made her a great asset. She found new ways of getting things done in order to help make just about every activity more efficient and enjoyable. Beverley was an active member of several community groups.

      Beverley was a natural and creative parent who wanted to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For her, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in their home. Beverley's skill at understanding her family members’ feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any of the various family problems or situations that might have arisen. Beverley had four children, three sons Mark, Gary and Barry, and one daughter Shonagh.

       Because Beverley was so attuned to her family, and especially the kids, she worked hard to raise them in a nurturing environment. In return for the energy she spent, the children often provided her with a great deal of pride and joy.She enjoyed travelling with both family and friends to destinations everywhere, but had a great affinity with Florida.

      Planning ahead for retirement, Beverley handled it the way she usually did. She adapted and, like everything in her life, made it satisfying. Since she was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, retirement was just another enjoyable change of pace for Beverley to experience.

       Even in retirement she found it easy to make new friends. She continued to stay in touch with her old friends and, like always, made plenty of new ones. Animals were also a part of her life in retirement, especially Muggs the Pug.

            Beverley Johnston left us on April 26, 2011. She passed away The Wynfield Long Term Care facility in Oshawa, Ontario. She was 82 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband David and by her son Mark. Bev is survived by children Gary and his wife Blanche, by Shonagh and her husband Michael, and by Barry and his wife Kelly. Grandchildren Paula, Andrew and Kyle will miss Bev tremendously. Services were handled by Oshawa Funeral Home. Beverley was laid to rest at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto,Ontario.

      There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Beverley. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative, and witty. For others, she was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, many others looked to her for inspiration, leadership, wisdom, and even courage. Mrs. BeverleyJoyce Johnston was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with those she loved.

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JOHNSTON, Beverley Joyce (nee Beck)

Bev passed away peacefully in her sleep, on Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 at The Wynfield Long Term Care in Oshawa, in her 83rd year. Beloved wife of the late David Miller Lawrence Johnston (2002). Loving mother of the late Mark Winston Johnston (1988). Devoted and cherished Mom of Gary Johnston and his wife Blanche of Oro Station, Shonagh Dougherty and her husband Michael of Whitby and Barry Johnston and his wife Kelly of Oshawa. Loving Gramma of Paula Johnston of Toronto and Andrew Johnston of Rockwood. Loving and adored Nana of Kyle Dougherty of Whitby. The Johnston and Dougherty families would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the staff at The Wynfield Long Term Care for their loving care and compassion. Those who knew Bev will remember her for her generous nature, easy going temperament and her great passion for dance, music, golf and family. Friends may call at OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234) for visitation on Thursday, April 28th from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Friday, April 29th at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations will be gratefully accepted for The Salvation Army or the Canadian Cancer Society.