Joan Mary Weeks

Joan Weeks 98, passed away at Lakewood, in Henrico, VA June 7, 2020. She died as a result of a broken hip after a fall on Memorial Day. She had been in Memory Care for several years, and the family would like to thank the staff for the wonderful care she received there.

Joan was born in Pontypridd, Wales. She grew up in the family’s floral, fruit and vegetable business, which fostered her lifelong love of gardening. Later in life, she returned to the florist business and taught arrangement classes where she worked. Joan also worked in the BOAC, building airplanes during WW II.

During the war, Joan was very creative, and made her own outfits to wear to the dances. She was a great dancer, and stood out because very few people had nice clothes during the war. During that time, while visiting her cousin in London, they went out for the evening and visited a club that was down in a cellar. While they were there, the entire block was bombed by the Germans. The clubgoers came up amongst the rubble, and Joan hopped on the next train headed back to South Wales.

During the war, Joan met Bob Weeks who was then in the Navy. Bob's ship had been detoured from its route from Liverpool to Cardiff Wales due to mines. In her mid-twenties, Joan immigrated to the U.S., married Bob, and together, they raised three boys in Hampton, VA.

While on the Peninsula, Joan made many friends, most of whom were like her, war brides from Great Britain. Clubs like The Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association would have dinners, meetings and parties, which she would attend. It was at one of these parties, that Joan performed an Anne Boleyn skit, which included her handmade costume of a headless Boleyn carrying her own head. Joan then sang a song, her head remaining tucked beneath her arm. Joan was the life of the party.

She had memorized some of the great poems, and would recite them. Most famously, "The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God." At her 91st birthday party, Joan picked up the cake knife, stood up and waved it around, proclaiming "The Russians are coming!" She also knew a lot of 'words-of-wisdom' type sayings, such as, "A lazy man’s load,"(trying to carry too much in one trip,) or "You’ve dirtied your ticket," (or burned your bridge,) and "Many a slip between the cup and the lip."

Joan and her friend Meg, travelled to many places around the world; China, Egypt, The Holy Land, Greece and many others. Once, on a return visit to Ponty, she asked about Tom Jones, as of course, she was a fan of the Pontypridd born star. Her cousin said, "Come on, I’ll introduce you to him! He’s always up at the pub when he’s in town," Tom then bought her fish n' chips.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Parker; siblings, Nigel Parker, Polly Parker and Shirley Williams (Robert Weeks); son, Kevin Weeks and Bill Feick, her companion of fifteen years.

She is survived by her sons, Wayne Weeks (Beverly), Nigel Weeks (Olivia) and grandchildren, Wesley Weeks (Sarah), Owen Weeks, Cory Weeks (Natalie), Nicole Weeks and finally, her great-grandchild Henry Weeks.

Joan had an indominable spirit, was dearly loved and will be missed by all.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic the family has chosen to have a virtual celebration of Joan's life at 2:00 PM, Thursday, June 18, 2020 by visiting https://www.facebook.com/ParklawnWood. If you are unable to view at this time the video will remain on the Parklawn-Wood Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association in Joan's honor.