Mrs. Joan Marie Kirk

JOAN MARIE KIRK (nee VERVAIS) 1922-2017, age 94, was born 6 December 1922 to Georges VERVAIS and Manon GAGNON in Vancouver, British Columbia; she was the youngest of four children. She passed away peacefully in the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, 21 June 2017.

Joan graduated from Kitsilano High School in 1940 and went to Vancouver Business College. She was hired to substitute as a clerk/stenographer at West Indies Import Company, in the Marine Building, for Edward Kirk; who was assigned to the military in Vernon. Upon his return, they began to date and later married on 28 July 1945 in Vancouver (later sealed in the Las Vegas Temple). Joan and Edward had four children: Barry (Sue), Terry (Marla), Nancy (Peder Jepsen), and Susan (Bryan Lamb). She had 22 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren (3 more coming), and one great great granddaughter.

Joan worked as a stenographer in the Vancouver City Health Department, which she retired from; as well as at several earlier jobs. She served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which she joined in 1961; and enjoyed writing poems, doing artwork and crossword puzzles, telling “good jokes,” and, most of all, spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward in 1971, her brother George in 2000, and her sister Lorraine in 2015; as well as her parents. She is survived by her posterity as well as her older sister, Ellen. It was a great reunion for Joan and Edward, after being apart for 46 years!

A viewing will be held from 10:00 to 10:45 AM, Friday, 14 July; with funeral services following at 11 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Vancouver Stake Centre, 5280 Kincaid Street, Burnaby. Interment will be held at the Mountain View Cemetery, 5455 Fraser Street, Vancouver; immediately following the funeral.