Joan Anne Mactavish

On Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, Joan Anne Mactavish (Oma), passed away peacefully in her 106th year! Words cannot adequately express how special and loved this little lady was to so many. Predeceased by her husband Ian Mactavish (2006), her eldest daughter Heather (1989), and her sister Ruth Sheridan (2013), Joan was an amazing mother and friend to her daughter Bonnie (Bob) and son Bruce (Nancy). Oma was a loving and cherished grandmother to Danna, Bradley, Kristen (Mark), Arran (Rob), Rob (Heather), Johnnie and Mac, and a great-grandmother to Antonio, Jackson, Noah, Willa and Huxley. Auntie Joan will also be deeply missed by her niece Lee (John) and nephew Kent (Sue) and their children, Kerri, Brock, Hunter, Skyler and Summer.

A graduate of Jarvis Collegiate and Victoria University, Joan was a woman of many talents and passions. She was a teacher, soloist, pianist, seamstress, dedicated volunteer, baseball enthusiast and writer. She left home during the war to teach in Winchester, Ontario and then Windsor, returning to Toronto when Ian came back from overseas…they married in December 1945. Joan and Ian created many treasured memories with close friends at Kahshe Lake, and while travelling together on business trips and throughout Europe forming lifelong friendships along the way. Joan continued to supply teach and volunteer until she responded to an ad looking for a teacher for a deaf and blind girl. Joan found her ‘calling’ when she met Mae Brown, a deafblind young woman who wanted to continue her education. A partnership and deep friendship developed as Mae and Joan attended every lecture and tutorial, with Joan, using the two-hand manual interpreting every word for Mae. It took five years of dedicated team work, when Mae graduated, with Joan at her side, becoming the first deafblind person in the Commonwealth to receive a university degree. Determined to support others, Joan and Mae set many goals for the deafblind community which are still being realized today. Following Mae’s sudden passing, Joan continued the groundbreaking work they had begun together. In 2000, in her 80th year, Joan published ‘Bravo! Miss Brown’, a lasting tribute to Mae and her mission.

This was the same year that Joan and Ian move to the Don Mills Senior Apartments. Life continued to be active, with morning workouts at the Granite Club, Bridge Games, and leading the Don Mills Singers.

As life began to slow down, Joan was happy spending time in Clearwater Beach, on Fripp Island, visiting with friends, and especially her family; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Donway Place, but especially to Oma’s loving caregivers; Linda, Kiara and Raquel.

A Celebration of Joan (Oma’s) Life will be held at Donway Covenant United Church, 230 The Donway West, Toronto, Ontario on Tuesday, September 15th at 11:00 am (livestream link: https://ipickart.com/stream/JoanAnneMactavish/).

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, MS Canada or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.

(Digital links to charitable donations are below)