Mary Joan Purcell Gates

Gates; Mary Joan - With her loving niece, Lynn Wilson at her side, and the love and care of her sons and their families across western Canada and California in her mind, Joan passed away peacefully after a long-standing illness in Nanaimo Hospital on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 88 years of age.

Predeceased by her husband Christopher and brother Ted, Joan is survived and will be deeply missed by family, sons: Cormack (Janet), Laurie (Anthony), Jamie (Shelley), Tom (Christina) and Alan (Lynn); grandchildren: Christopher (Alex), Daniel, Matthew, Jeremy (Ula), Audrey, Leigh-Anna (Martin), Albert (Amber), Ellen Joan, Kayla (Rob) and Casey (Brock): great grandchildren: Alexander, Brooke, Christopher, Madden, Abigail, Sabina and Mila, Hunter and Halle, sister Irene Moxley and brother Lawrence Patrick Purcell (Josephine), as well as numerous other relatives, and many friends.

Joan spent her working life as a registered Nurse, gaining her education through Brandon Mental Hospital, Winnipeg General Hospital, the University of Alberta, and the University of Saskatchewan. Joan worked at the Sturgeon Hospital in St. Albert, the General Hospital in Edmonton, the Hospital Commission of Alberta and lastly with West Coast General Hospital as Director of Nursing and Administrator for Health Care Services in Port Alberni until her retirement. As an RN Joan was also very involved in professional development and various professional organizations, including an executive with the Canadian College of Health Services, Manitoba Registered Nurses Association, Alberta Registered Nurses Association and the Registered Nurses Association of BC. She was also involved with the University Women’s Club, Leader of Cub Scouts and a longtime member and former council member of Notre Dame Parish. Joan loved people and developed many close and long lasting friends everywhere she went. Upon her retirement from nursing, Joan was able to focus more of her attention on her other passion, her art. She was involved in numerous art programs and was a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and was an accomplished water-colorist in her own right.

Prayers will be offered at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at Chapel of Memories Funeral Home, 4005 6th Avenue, Port Alberni. A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Parish, 4731 Burke Rd, Port Alberni, with Fr. Stephen Paine and Fr. David Purcell co-officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Internment will take place in Greenwood Cemetery, Port Alberni, where Joan will be buried with her husband in the Field of Honor. Stories and condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.chapelofmemories.ca. If desired, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to the Canadian Red Cross 300 - 170 Metcalfe St., Ottawa, ON K2P 2P2 and St. Vincent de Paul Society of Port Alberni.